Kabosu, the beloved Japanese Shiba Inu whose endearing smile famously inspired the “doge” meme and later became the face of Dogecoin, has passed away at the age of 18, as announced by her owner, Atsuko Sato, on Friday.
Atsuko Sato adopted Kabosu from a dog shelter in 2008.
The image of Kabosu, with her whimsical expression and paws crossed, captured hearts on Reddit and Tumblr, propelling the “doge” meme phenomenon.
By 2013, this image became the official logo of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency originally created as a joke but later gaining significant traction.
In a heartfelt tribute posted on her blog and Instagram on May 24, Sato shared a poignant poem mourning the loss of her cherished pet.
The owner of Kabosu, the female
Shiba Inu known as the “Doge meme” dog, posted on Instagram that Kabosu-chan had passed away and “is at rest now.” She was 18. pic.twitter.com/BhCih6m7rI— Unseen Japan (@UnseenJapanSite) May 24, 2024
Also read: Twitter’s Blue Bird logo replaced with ‘Doge’ meme: Here’s why
A farewell party is scheduled to be held in Kabosu’s memory on May 26 at Flower Kaori in Narita City.
Additionally, Sato plans to organize a more celebratory event later in the year.
Kabosu’s influence extended beyond internet meme culture, playing a key role in the rise of Dogecoin and inspiring the creation of other dog-themed cryptocurrencies like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and FLOKI.
Her impact on the crypto industry remains deeply felt.
