A Japanese man who became famous for having spent $14,000 to dress himself in a hyper-realistic Collie onesie is offering a similar chance to others in a new Saitama Prefecture, Japan, zoo that recently opened its doors. Toco, whose name became famous for having shelled out $14,000 for a hyper-realistic Collie onesie, recently opened Saitama Prefecture, Japan, with a new Tocotoco Zoo.
Toco first became an international sensation in 2022 (and not 2023, as initially stated) when he flashed off his custom-made canine attire, crafted for him by Japanese model and prop maker, Zeppet. Footage of him creeping, frolicking, and socialising with fellow canines soon dominated social networks, raising eyebrows and sparking conversation in its wake. Today, he’s inviting everyone else in to join in and indulge in this wacky infatuation.
Visitors at Tocotoco Zoo wear high-fidelity, lifelike canine costumes and navigate scheduled events for an immersive environment. The ones for Alaskan Malamutes, with wagging tails and moving jaws, enable participants to act out playful behavior, react to environment, and even learn a little “trick.”
The sessions run for about 180 minutes and will cost about $315. There are height and moving requirements for guests in order for them to have a comfortable and participatory experience. All reservations have to be placed at least 30 days in advance.
I have dreamed about becoming an animal for a long, long time, I recently told a video. “I hoped to make them have an equivalent curiosity and desire, and I told them my dream.” In future, Tocotoco Zoo can expand its portfolio to include transformations into larger animals, with Toco specifically interested in animals such as pandas. Smaller animals such as cats and foxes have, however, been eliminated, with him citing a lack of ease in recreating them in a real-life manner in terms of both size and motion.
The Tocotoco Zoo is part of a new generation of immersive experiences, in which one pays for new reality experiences. For most, the concept will sound new, but it is a new form of expression and escape.
