A Japanese man was tired of being a human, so he spent 2 million to become a dog, and now he has found his own kind

In today’s society, people’s minds are becoming more open, and role-playing has become quite common in daily life. Many people, when they see their favorite anime characters or TV show characters, often cosplay as them just for fun.

Some people also love animals and will sometimes dress up in animal costumes to play with their pets at home, which is a great way to pass the time and add a bit of joy to life.

However, for a Japanese man named Toko, these simple role-playing activities were not satisfying and were not what he truly wanted. In his mind, being a human is not as good as being a dog. Only by truly becoming a dog could he escape the troubles of being a human.

Once he made up his mind, he immediately invested 2 million yen to turn himself into a dog. So, what was he really thinking?

1. The Peculiar Idea of a Peculiar Man

As the saying goes, it takes all sorts to make a world. There are all kinds of people in this vast world, each with their own thoughts and ways of living. But there aren’t many people like Toko, who would give up being human to become a dog. However, Toko didn’t care about what others thought; he just wanted to follow his heart.

As a child, Toko had a special bond with animals, especially dogs. He had several dogs at home, each of a different breed, and he would spend time playing with them, which made him very happy.

In his mind, dogs are the most loyal friends of humans, trustworthy companions. Most importantly, a dog’s world is simple—they don’t have to work or study hard like humans. As long as they please their owners and help guard the house, they have food, drink, and shelter, living a carefree life.

As he grew up and started working, although he made a good amount of money, he faced immense pressure at work every day. Combined with the stresses of daily life, he felt that his days as a human were bleak.

At this point, the childhood idea of wanting to become a dog re-emerged in his mind, lingering and not going away. He was so troubled by this thought that he often couldn’t sleep at night.

Finally, one day, he couldn’t hold it in any longer and confessed his feelings to his girlfriend, hoping to gain her support.

When his girlfriend first heard Toko’s idea, she thought he was crazy and unbelievable and didn’t want to engage with him at all. But after years of being together and having a deep emotional connection, she eventually gave in to his persistent pleading.

2. The Difficult Road to Making Friends

Initially, Toko’s behavior of pretending to be a dog was just for his own amusement, known only to his girlfriend and close family members.

However, Toko was not satisfied with this. He even bought a large dog cage to keep at home, choosing to sleep inside it instead of on the bed, living like a real dog.

He also asked his girlfriend to be his owner, to leash him and take him outside to find real dogs to befriend. Without hesitation, his girlfriend agreed.

But walking like a dog outside presented significant challenges for Toko. Humans and dogs are different species, with different body structures, and significant differences in the length and function of their limbs.

Although a person can crawl on the ground like a dog, the length of human limbs makes it very difficult to walk or run like a dog for long periods.

But this didn’t stop Toko from wanting to make friends with dogs. He bought a large cart and had his girlfriend push him outside in it.

While the Shepherd dog suit he wore was very realistic, the size of a real dog is still quite different from that of a human. So Toko, dressed as a Shepherd dog, looked much bigger than an actual Shepherd.

When his girlfriend pushed him out the door, people in the neighborhood were very curious, especially those who owned Shepherd dogs. They wanted to know what this Shepherd had eaten to grow so big or if it was a special breed.

Facing these curious onlookers, Toko was initially very nervous. To avoid being detected, he obediently lay in the cart, not daring to make a sound or move.

But as he learned more about dogs and his mimicry became more lifelike, he gave up the cart and started crawling on the ground with his hands. Although he moved slowly, his actions became more and more similar to those of a Shepherd.

Gradually, he began interacting with people around him. When someone petted his head, he would sit obediently, sometimes even rolling over to expose his belly for a rub, or bowing with his front paws.

People couldn’t help but praise this adorable big dog. Some even brought their dogs over to play with him, which made Toko very happy because his goal was to make dog friends.

At first, the dogs looked at him curiously from a distance. With their owners’ approval, they approached him, seemingly eager to make a new friend.

However, something strange happened. All the dogs that approached Toko, after sniffing him for a bit, suddenly ran away in fear, with some even barking at him continuously.

This isn’t surprising, as dogs have a very keen sense of smell. They can easily distinguish the smell of a dog from that of a human. Toko looked like a dog but had the scent of a human, which to a real dog was like encountering a monster, so they ran away.

Seeing the dogs that had initially seemed eager to play with him run away quickly, Toko felt a bit disappointed. He knew that making friends as a “dog” was going to be very challenging.

Although he didn’t succeed in making friends, Toko’s dog role-playing caught the attention of the media. A TV program even invited him to share his story on their show.

Most viewers watched the program out of curiosity. But when Toko appeared on the stage dressed as a dog, everyone was stunned.

He really looked like a real Shepherd dog. Whether it was the way he walked or his appearance, it was hard to tell he was human if you didn’t look closely.

Toko even interacted with the host by playing fetch, jumping nimbly to catch the ball just like a real dog.

After that, Toko and his dog persona became popular. His videos were even shared on websites abroad, and Toko became a real “Internet dog celebrity.”

He began sharing more of his “dog life” online, attracting more and more fans.

3. Finally Finding His “Kind”

Although sharing his “dog life” online and gaining fans’ attention brought Toko some happiness, there was still one big regret for him. That regret was not finding a friend who truly understood him.

He wanted to make friends with real dogs, but because of the scent issue, he failed. If he could find someone who also loved dogs and was passionate about role-playing as a dog, that regret might be eased.

There are actually many people in the world who enjoy role-playing as animals. They, like Toko, will custom-make animal suits and role-play as their favorite animals in their spare time.

But for most people, it’s just a hobby, a way to add some spice to their lives. Few are as extreme as Toko.

Many netizens believe that someone as peculiar as Toko is one of a kind, and it’s impossible to find another like him. Even Toko himself thought so.

However, the world is full of surprises. No matter how strange the idea or how crazy the behavior, there will always be someone who shares the same passion. This year, Toko finally found his “kind”—a very lifelike Alaskan Malamute played by a person.

He posted a video of finding his new partner on social media. In the video, the two “dogs” interact happily, even greeting the camera together. They even shook hands.

To be honest, the Alaskan Malamute was even more lifelike than Toko’s Shepherd dog. When it opened its mouth or wagged its tail, it was indistinguishable from a real dog.

If you don’t look closely, you can’t tell it’s actually a person inside. Some fans even commented under the video, thinking that Toko’s new Alaskan Malamute friend was a real dog.

Many people still can’t understand Toko’s obsession with role-playing as a dog. Some even call him crazy and think he should see a psychiatrist.

But there are also many who admire Toko, believing he is brave for living according to his true desires. After all, nothing is more important than personal happiness.

Conclusion

Despite the many challenges and criticism he has faced on his journey to becoming a dog, Toko has finally found his like-minded companion, bringing him great comfort.

Everyone has the right to choose how they want to live. Toko and his Alaskan Malamute friend have chosen to become dogs. To outsiders, this may seem crazy, but to them, it brings great joy. Let’s hope they continue to find happiness in their chosen path.