Kabosu, the Shiba Inu dog who became an internet icon and the face of the famous “Doge” meme and the “Dogecoin” cryptocurrency, died last Friday at the age of 18. The news was confirmed by her owner, Atsuko Sato, who shared on social media that her pet died peacefully at her home in Sakura, a city east of Tokyo.
Kabosu was adopted by Sato in 2008, after being rescued from a shelter. Her name was inspired by her resemblance to the Japanese citrus fruit kabosu. The dog began to gain popularity when Sato began posting photos of her daily life on a blog. However, it was an image from 2010, where Kabosu appears with raised eyebrows and an expression that could be interpreted as mischievous or funny, that sparked her viral fame.
Despite the global attention, Kabosu remained a calm and gentle dog. Sato mentioned in an interview with The Verge in 2013 that her dog enjoyed being photographed and she didn’t seem bothered by the attention she received. Sato always seemed happy and delighted with her beloved Shiba Inu, who accumulated millions of followers around the world.
Kabosu’s image went viral when internet users began editing it, adding short phrases in English with the Comic Sans font. These sentences used simple and grammatically incorrect English, starting with words such as “such,” “many,” “very,” and “so.” This style became a distinctive feature of the “Doge” meme.
The popularity of the meme increased as it was shared on platforms such as Reddit, Tumblr and 4chan. By 2013, the “Doge” meme had already established itself in internet culture, being used in various campaigns and projects.
“Dogecoin”: From meme to cryptocurrency
In 2013, the “Dogecoin” cryptocurrency adopted Kabosu’s image as its logo, further boosting its fame. This cryptocurrency, initially created as a joke, became one of the most recognized in the world. In 2021, “Dogecoin” experienced a spectacular boom, making some investors millionaires and further cementing Kabosu’s status as a cultural icon.
In recent years, Kabosu faced health problems. She was diagnosed with chronic lymphoma and acute cholangiohepatitis. Despite these challenges, she remained a point of interest for more than 500,000 followers on her social media, who celebrated her birthday every November 2 as “Doge Day.”
The news of Kabosu’s death has generated a wave of tributes and condolences on social media. On platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, fans and followers of the “Doge” meme have expressed their sadness at his departure. Many users, some of whom also have pets, shared memories and thanks for the fun moments that the meme gave us.
“I am certain that Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world,” commented his owner in her farewell on social networks.
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