In today's society, as people's thoughts continue to open up, role-playing has gradually become a part of our daily lives.
Many people express their dreams through cosplay when admiring their favorite anime characters or TV show figures.
Additionally, some people have a special fondness for animals; they wear animal costumes and play with their pets, which not only passes the time but also adds a lot of fun to their lives.
However, for a Japanese man named Tok, these common forms of role-playing do not satisfy his inner self.
He believes that being a dog is much easier than being a human; truly transforming into a dog allows him to escape the troubles of life.
Driven by this idea, he unhesitatingly invested 2 million yen, determined to "become" a dog.
So, what is his inner world like?
"There are all kinds of birds in the forest," is a saying that reflects the variety of people in the world.
Although there are not many like Tok who abandon their human identity to choose to become a dog, he does not care about others' opinions; he simply wants to follow his heart.
As a child, Tok had a deep bond with animals, especially dogs.
He raised several dogs at home, each with different personalities, and enjoyed playing with them.
In his heart, dogs are not only humanity's most loyal friends but also trustworthy companions.
More importantly, dogs lead a simple, carefree life; they don't have to work hard, only needing to please their owners and live peacefully, which is truly desirable.
However, as he grew older and faced increasing work pressure, Tok gradually felt the weight and helplessness of life, with worries filling his days.
He often reminisced about his childhood dreams and longed to transform into a dog to escape life's burdens.
After much struggle and reflection, Tok finally shared his thoughts with his girlfriend, hoping for her support.
Initially, his girlfriend was shocked and incredulous at his crazy idea, even reluctant to engage with him.
But due to their deep emotional connection over the years, she eventually compromised and chose to support his decision.
With her support, Tok completely let go of himself.
He began to mimic various dog behaviors: sniffing around, rolling on the ground, and begging for pets.
He even changed his eating habits, holding food in his hands to eat and occasionally switching to dog food.
To portray his role more authentically, he specially ordered a high-quality shepherd dog suit, as that breed is his favorite; its size is close to that of a human, making it convenient to wear.
The suit has an excellent texture, is soft and detailed, resembling a real shepherd dog, costing as much as 2 million yen (about 10,000 RMB).
Once he received the suit, Tok eagerly put it on, even rolling around in the yard and playing fetch with his girlfriend.
Through extensive practice, he has mastered the imitation of movements, and now, with the suit, it looks even more realistic.
If one doesn’t observe closely, it’s indeed difficult to distinguish him from a dog.
Initially, Tok was just entertaining himself, with only his girlfriend and family aware of his hobby.
But he was not satisfied with this and even purchased a large dog cage to replace his bed, living like a real dog.
He also asked his girlfriend to be his "owner," taking him to meet real dogs.
Despite this idea, Tok still faced many challenges when walking outside.
Humans and dogs are fundamentally different, with clear differences in body structure and limb length.
Although he could lie on the ground and imitate a dog, walking in that position for extended periods was difficult.
Thus, he bought a large cart to sit in while his girlfriend pushed him out.
When Tok was pushed out of the community, people around cast curious glances, especially owners of shepherd dogs who wanted to know what breed this "big dog" was.
At first, he was very nervous, trying not to make any noise and avoiding any sudden movements.
However, as he learned more about dogs and became more skilled in imitating their actions, Tok decided to abandon the cart and crawl directly on his knees.
Gradually, he began to interact with people around him; when others patted his head, he would obediently sit down and even roll over for belly rubs.
Seeing this adorable "big dog," people around praised him, and some even brought their own dogs over, hoping they could play together.
However, unexpectedly, all the nearby dogs ran away in fear after smelling him.
Dogs have extremely sensitive noses, and they can clearly distinguish between "dogs" and "humans."
Despite Tok's appearance resembling that of a dog, the human scent he emitted instinctively frightened the real dogs.
Watching these initially curious dog friends quickly leave, Tok felt disappointed, realizing that making friends was filled with obstacles.
Although he didn't succeed in making friends, Tok's "dog" persona caught the media's attention, and even a production team invited him to share his story.
On the show, the audience was amazed by Tok's realistic portrayal, and his interaction with the host demonstrated his closeness with dogs.
With the spread of his story online, Tok and his dog persona gradually gained popularity, attracting attention abroad and turning him into a "celebrity dog."
Although sharing his daily life as a dog online brought him immense joy, Tok still felt a sense of regret; he always longed to find a friend who could understand him.
Tok's obsession lies in wanting to make friends with real dogs, but due to the scent issue, he has never been able to fulfill this wish.
He hopes to find someone who shares his interests and also loves animal role-playing.
In fact, there are many role-playing enthusiasts around the world; some might even customize suits and enjoy this lifestyle.
But most people see it merely as a hobby, while Tok's situation is particularly unique.
Surprisingly, Tok finally found a like-minded partner on social media—an Alaskan dog also played by a human.
In the video, the two "dogs" happily interact and even greet the camera, creating a warm and joyful scene.
Overall, although Tok has faced numerous challenges and criticisms in his pursuit of self-fulfillment, finding a kindred spirit and achieving his wish undoubtedly brings him great comfort.
His story teaches us that everyone has the right to choose their own way of life, just as Tok and his Alaskan dog friend have chosen.
Though it may seem crazy to outsiders, inner happiness is what truly matters to them. We hope Tok can continue to enjoy this way of life!
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