Man who spent Rs 12 lakhs to ‘become’ a dog doesn’t want to live like that

A Japanese man named Toco, who gained fame on social media for his transformation into a dog through a custom-made collie costume, has clarified that he does not actually want to live like a canine. In a recent report by the New York Post, Toco stated that he wears the costume "maybe once a week, mostly at home." He explained, "My desire to be an animal is like a desire to transform, a desire to be something that I am not."

Toco's unusual garment, which took 40 days to create, has helped him fulfil his dream of "becoming an animal." He had previously shared videos of himself playing fetch and rolling on the floor. He even ventured out in public in Tokyo while wearing the costume, attracting the attention of onlookers and other dogs. Toco mentioned that the videos were filmed last year during an interview with a German TV station called RTL. He expressed gratitude for being granted permission to release the videos to the public, stating that the interviewers were very kind to him on that day.

Despite not expecting such a large response from the internet, Toco's family has been supportive of his unique interest. The YouTuber, who has amassed over 33,000 subscribers, stated that his family was surprised but received his passion favourably.

Toco's journey has been chronicled on his YouTube channel, although he has not revealed his identity publicly. He shared that he had always harboured a vague dream of becoming an animal ever since he was a child. When asked why he chose to become a collie, he explained that he made the decision based on his personal taste and preference for quadrupedal animals, especially cute ones. Toco believed that a big animal resembling him would be the most realistic choice, thus opting for a long-haired dog like the collie.

In addition to his YouTube success, Toco's hyper-realistic collie costume gained attention due to its price tag of Rs 12 lakh ($14,000). Produced by Zeppet, a company specialising in costumes for TV commercials and shows, the final suit required 40 days of meticulous work and numerous revisions. While Toco's impersonation was met with acclaim from his online following, American Kennel Club judges critiqued certain aspects of his portrayal.

Despite facing criticism from trolls who dismissed his dog cosplay as a bizarre fetish, Toco remains undeterred and committed to his hobby. He expressed his love for animals and emphasized that his play-acting as a collie brings him joy, as well as happiness to others. As for his financial gains from his YouTube account, Toco chose not to disclose the exact amount but mentioned that his subscriber base has skyrocketed to 51,000.