My first walkies! Japanese man who bought £12,000 dog costume finally goes outside… and immediately makes some canine friends as he settles into his new life as a collie

A dog lover who has achieved internet fame for his desire to ‘become an animal’ has taken his first steps outside dressed head to toe in a bespoke collie costume worth more than £12,000. 

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’.

In some of his most recent updates to his almost 30,000 YouTube subscribers, Toco was seen playing in his backyard – on all fours – and attempting to perform tricks in exchange for fake dog food.

But he has now ventured into the outside world to meet other people and animals for the first time.

In a pair of surreal videos posted to his YouTube channel ‘I want to be an animal’, Toco is first seen being taken out for a walk on a leash, and is later seen sniffing at other dogs in a park before rolling around on the floor.

Toco has now ventured into the outside world to meet other people and animals for the first time

A woman is seen cuddling the man in the dog costume

Toco interacted with other dogs, walking on all fours and sniffing at them

Toco’s antics were seemingly well-received in the video by passers-by and other dogs, who seemed inquisitive above all else.

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’.

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.

Making friends: Toco released a video showing him out and about – and admits to being ‘very nervous’

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

He spent $15,000 on the rough collie costume so he could fulfil his dream of turning into an animal

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

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

‘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.’