The beloved shiba inu, Kabosu, whose iconic image sparked the viral “doge” meme craze and inspired the creation of Dogecoin, has sadly passed away, as announced by her owner on Friday.
Atsuko Sato, Kabosu’s owner and a kindergarten teacher in Sakura, Japan, shared the heartbreaking news in a blogpost, revealing that Kabosu peacefully passed away in her sleep at the age of 18. Sato described the serene morning scene as Kabosu took her last breath, surrounded by the gentle melodies of singing birds.
Kabosu rose to internet stardom in 2010 when a photo capturing her unique expression and folded paws gained traction on platforms like Reddit, sparking a wave of “doge” memes. Internet users worldwide delighted in photoshopping Kabosu’s face onto various objects, foods, and animals, contributing to the phenomenon’s widespread popularity.
In December 2013, Kabosu’s fame reached new heights when she became the face of Dogecoin, a playful cryptocurrency inspired by the internet’s affinity for meme culture. Dogecoin, initially created as a lighthearted response to Bitcoin, quickly gained a dedicated following, with Elon Musk among its notable supporters.
Musk’s involvement further propelled Dogecoin into the spotlight, with his Twitter poll in May 2021 generating significant buzz around the cryptocurrency. Such was Dogecoin’s impact that it caused a surge in demand, briefly overwhelming trading systems like Robinhood’s.
In a touching tribute, a Dogecoin community post hailed Kabosu as their “inspiration,” recognizing her profound influence on meme culture and cryptocurrency enthusiasts worldwide.
Sato had previously disclosed Kabosu’s health struggles, including leukemia and liver disease, in Instagram posts in 2022. She now plans to honor Kabosu’s memory with a “farewell gathering” on Sunday, celebrating the remarkable life of the dog who captured hearts around the globe.
