A man who spent a whopping $23,000 on a giant wolf costume says when he's in the get-up, he feels "no longer human".
After a long week at work, Japanese engineer Toru Ueda chooses to unwind in a rather unique way. Instead of heading out for a drink at a local bar, Ueda prefers to stay home and entertain, clad in a giant wolf costume worth a staggering 3 million yen, or $23,000 USD.
Speaking to the Times, the 32-year-old Tokyo resident last year revealed that his fascination with animals stems from his desire to break free from the demands of human life. Ueda confessed, "When I wear my costume, I feel I’m no longer human. I’m free of human relationships. All kinds of troubles, related to work and other things — I can forget about them."
Ueda's incredible wolf suit was crafted by Zeppet, a company famed for creating costumes for TV and movie productions. The range of their creations includes everything from monstrous creatures and robots for science fiction and horror films, to adorable animal suits for children's shows.
His specific design required meticulous attention to detail; he reportedly exchanged more than 40 emails with the team and met with them three times to discuss his dream suit's design and specific details like the coat pattern and fur texture.
Ueda went on to share: "Because of my love for animals since childhood and some realistic animal suits appearing on TV, I dreamed of being one someday. At the final fitting, I was amazed at my transformed self in the mirror. It was a moment when my dream came true."
He added: "My order to 'look like a real wolf walking on hind legs' was difficult – to say the least – but the complete suit looked exactly like what I imagined.
"Not only did the specs perfectly cover all of my preferences, but the ventilation slit for the wearer’s comfort and the devices that let the wearer put it on without help showed me that the designers paid close attention to the wearer’s comfort."
Zeppet, known for their lifelike suits, made news in 2022 with their man-sized border collie suit valued at $15,400.
Another Japanese man named Toco went viral after posting daily content of himself living out his paw-fect lifestyle which includes learning how to eat, walk, and play like a dog.
Beyond these larger creations, the company also produces strikingly accurate replicas of people’s pets. Pricing varies based on the pet's size: a Chihuahua replica, for instance, would cost about $2,300, while a larger Great Dane replica would be closer to $3,500.
Cosplay is a popular pastime in Japan, but Ueda marches to his own beat. None of his friends dress up, and he generally refrains from wearing his furry outfit to cosplayer gatherings.
Ueda finds a certain empowerment in his costume, stating: "When I look in the mirror, I see a wolf, and that is very moving. I’m not a werewolf — that’s a kind of monster, and I am not a monster."
