Japanese man who spent £12,500 on authentic dog costume reveals how his family feel about his new life as a collie

• Toco achieved internet fame by dressing head to toe in bespoke collie costume 

A Japanese dog lover who achieved internet fame by dressing head to toe in a bespoke collie costume worth £12,500 has revealed how his family feel about his new life as a canine.

Known only as Toco, the man spent two million Yen – which equates to £12,480 – on a lifelike costume to fulfil his lifelong fantasy of ‘becoming an animal’.

Toco became an internet sensation and amassed over 52,000 subscribers on YouTube when he shared videos of him being taken out for walks – on all fours – and attempting to perform tricks in exchange for fake dog food.

Now, Toco has revealed that his family were initially ‘surprised’ by his bizarre ‘hobby’ of dressing up as the collie, but have come to accept it. 

‘The family was surprised, but received it favourably,’ Toco told the New York Post. ‘I am very happy that they accepted it.’

A Japanese dog lover who achieved internet fame by dressing head to toe in a bespoke collie costume worth £12,500 has revealed how his family feel about his new life as a canine

Toco achieved internet fame by dressing head to toe in bespoke collie costume

Known only as Toco, the man spent two million Yen – which equates to £12,480 – on a lifelike costume to fulfil his lifelong fantasy of ‘becoming an animal’

Toco, who has previously said his lifelong dream was to be a dog and walk outside, said of his hobby: ‘My desire to be an animal is like a desire to transform, a desire to be something that I am not.’ 

He added that he transforms into the collie once a week, mostly at home.

But a series of surreal videos posted to his YouTube channel ‘I want to be an animal’, Toco is seen being taken out for a walk on a leash in the outside world to meet other people and animals for the first time. 

The footage shows Toco sniffing other dogs in a park before rolling around on the floor.

Toco has received backlash online, with many social media users mocking him for spending £12,500 on the costume that took 40 days to make.

One Twitter user said: ‘A Japanese man spent over $20K for this border collie costume. You cannot convince me this isn’t some weird sex thing.

‘Men will literally spend $20,000 to transform into a border collie instead of going to therapy.’

Responding to the comments, Toco said: ‘I’m just sad that people can think that. I love animals and enjoy play-acting like a collie. This is my hobby, so I will carry on. It makes me happy and other people happy, too.’ 

Toco’s antics were seemingly well-received in the video of him walking on all fours in a park by passers-by and other dogs, who seemed inquisitive above all else.

Toco, who stepped outside his home, has interacted with other dogs, walking on all fours and sniffing at them

A Japanese man who transforms into a dog using an ultra-realistic costume has said he hides his canine alter ego from his friends because he is worried they think it is weird

Other videos showed Toco rolling over while clutching a stuffed toy animal

But despite having built a cult following, Toco is not yet ready to take off his mask.

Toco told MailOnline in May last year: ‘Ever since I was a small child, I wanted to be an animal. I think it is a desire to transform.

‘I’ve thought about it since I can remember.’

The dog-lover said he has hidden his identity and his human face from the world because he doesn’t want to be judged by people he knows. 

‘I don’t want my hobbies to be known,’ he said, ‘especially by the people I work with.’

‘They think it’s weird that I want to be a dog. For the same reason why I can’t show my real face.’

Then late last year, Toco told the Mirror he’s still not yet built up enough confidence to tell some of his closest friends about his hobby.

‘I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird,’ he said. ‘My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.’ 

Toco said he enjoys ‘doing things that only dogs do’.

Toco suggested using a collie as he says ‘long-haired dogs can mislead the human figure’

In September, Toco first attempted an outdoor walk. He said in a YouTube video documenting the experience he felt ‘nervous and a little scared’.

‘I’m wearing a leash because people are surprised when they see me. I’m very nervous,’ he said in the video.

‘Do you remember your dreams from when you are little? You want to be a hero or a wizard.

‘I remember writing in my grade school graduation book that I wanted to be a dog and walk outside.’

He noted how nice the wind felt in his fur, and rolled in the grass in his backyard.

Toco said he wears sandals to protect his feet and the bottom of the costume from getting dirty, after spending almost £13,000 getting it custom-made.  

His now viral videos have attracted like-minded fans, with one saying: ‘You inspire us to fulfil our dreams too.’

Another wrote: ‘I hope I become the animal I want to be as well. You’re an inspiration to us.’

Japanese company Zeppet, which creates costumes for TV commercials and films, spent 40 days making the outfit.

A spokesman said: ‘Modelled after a collie dog, it reproduces the appearance of a real dog walking on four legs.’

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