Did a Japanese Man Transform Himself into a Dog?

Some individuals engage in unconventional behaviours, such as dressing up as animals or adopting other unique habits. When these actions are shared on social media, they often get misrepresented or taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations among viewer

Social Media Posts

Recently, social media has been buzzing with images and videos claiming that a Japanese man transformed himself into a dog after spending $20,000.

FB | Archived

Below is a video.

Archived | FB

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

Initial Observations:

The viral video shows behaviours that are not typical of a natural dog. The "dog" in the footage leapt while lying on the ground, did not walk upright, and displayed no facial movements or mouth actions despite rolling on the floor. These inconsistencies suggested that the "dog" might not be accurate.

Keyword Search:

A Google search for more information led to multiple articles about Toco, who became famous in 2022 for his unusual hobby.

Details about Toco:

According to a report by Mirror, a UK-based news platform, Toco spent approximately two million Yen (about £12,480 or over $15,000) to fulfil his lifelong dream of appearing as his favourite dog breed, a rough collie.

Toco achieved this by purchasing a realistic dog costume from Zeppet, a Japanese agency known for creating detailed sculptures and models for movies. The report can be reached here: Archived.

YouTube Channel:

Toco runs a YouTube channel called “I want to be an animal,” where he shares videos of himself in a dog costume. The channel's description states, “I wanted to be an animal, so I became a rough collie! This channel will bring you videos of such an unusual rough collie.”

His first video was uploaded on April 12, 2022. Since then, he has posted multiple videos. His YouTube channel can be reached here.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google News | TikTok

Conclusion:

While Toco's costume is impressively realistic, giving the appearance of a dog, he has not undergone any physical transformation. The claim that a Japanese man has turned himself into a dog is misleading. Toco achieved his dog-like appearance through an elaborate and expensive costume, not through physical modification or transformation.