‘I decided to live as a dog’: Japanese man spends $16,000 to transform into a border collie

A Japanese man known as “Toco” fulfills his childhood dream of becoming a dog by commissioning a highly detailed border collie costume for 22 million won ($16,000). Captured from Toco's social media

A man in Japan has spent 22 million won ($16,000) to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a dog, creating a stir with his videos of living like a canine.

According to the Daily Mirror, the man — who goes by the pseudonym “Toco” — commissioned Zeppet, a Japanese company specializing in movie and commercial props, to create a hyperrealistic border collie costume over the course of 40 days. The full-body suit meticulously replicates the skeletal structure, fur flow and jaw movement of the breed. It is engineered to withstand the wearer’s movements, featuring joint resistance and weight distribution mechanisms. The costume weighs approximately 4 kilograms.

Toco walks on a leash, eats dog treats and plays with a frisbee while wearing his border collie costume, fully embracing the life of a dog. Captured from Toco's social media

Toco shares his dog-like activities on his YouTube channel, which has garnered over 73,000 subscribers. In the videos, he can be seen wearing a leash while taking walks, eating dog treats and chasing frisbees, fully embracing the life of a dog. In an interview with the Japanese media outlet Mynavi, Toco said he chose the border collie because it was “an ideal model — large, four-legged and cute.”

Medical professionals have raised concerns about the potential health risks of Toco’s unusual lifestyle. Japanese rehabilitation medicine specialists warn that a full-body, sealed costume can hinder body temperature regulation, and maintaining an unnatural posture for extended periods may strain the spine and joints. Prolonged weight-bearing on elbows and knees could lead to cartilage damage, they said.

Indeed, Toco limits his time moving on all fours, often lying down or crawling slowly. He said, “There is some resistance when I move, but if I move too vigorously, it doesn’t look like a real dog, so I restrain myself.”

In January, Toco launched a business called “TokoToko Zoo” for those who share his dream. The program allows visitors to wear an Alaskan Malamute costume and experience life as a dog for two to three hours. The fee is set at 60,000 yen (340,000 won) for two people, and reservations must be made at least a month in advance. However, the business has struggled with low bookings and is set to reopen in July after a temporary closure.

Toco has kept his identity a secret, saying he fears his friends would think he is strange. He has not disclosed his activities to even his closest acquaintances. However, he said his family respects his decision.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.