Kabosu, the Japanese shiba inu who captured the hearts of millions and inspired countless internet memes, has died peacefully at the age of 18. Her owner, Atsuko Sato, a kindergarten teacher in Sakura, Japan, shared the news in a heartfelt blog post and on Instagram on Friday, May 24th.
“On the morning of May 24th, Kabosu crossed the rainbow bridge,” Sato wrote, expressing her gratitude to Kabosu’s many fans for their love andsupport over the years. “She went very peacefully without suffering, as if falling asleep while feeling the warmth of my hands petting her.”
Kabosu’s journey to internet stardom began in 2010 when Sato posted a photo on her blog of Kabosu sitting on a sofa with folded paws and a quizzical expression. The image quickly went viral, spawning the “doge” meme, which features Kabosu’s face alongside captions written in comic sans font and deliberately broken English.
The Shiba Inu’s likeness went on to inspire the creation of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that started as a joke but has since become a major player in the crypto world, with a market capitalization of billions of dollars. The meme also inspired a non-fungible token (NFT) that sold for $4 million.
“I think Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world,” Sato wrote in her blog post. “And I was the happiest owner.”
In December 2022, Sato revealed that Kabosu had been diagnosed with leukemia and liver disease. Despite the challenges, Kabosu continued to bring joy to her many fans, and Sato expressed her gratitude for the “invisible power” of their prayers and well wishes.
Kabosu’s legacy will live on through the countless memes and the thriving Dogecoin community. Her unique blend of charm, humor, and resilience will be remembered fondly by those who had the pleasure of knowing her, both online and in person.
