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.

Toco spent two million Yen ($15,000) on a custom-made rough collie costume last month, fulfilling his life-long ambition of becoming an animal.

Yet he only wears the suit on 'special occasions' and hides his secret from friends and colleagues who 'think it's weird that I want to be a dog'.

Toco told MailOnline: '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.'