24-5-2024 (TOKYO) In a heartfelt farewell that has reverberated across the digital landscape, Atsuko Sato, the owner of the internet-famous shiba inu named Kabosu, announced the passing of her beloved pet on Friday, May 24. Kabosu, whose iconic photo inspired a generation of oddball online jokes and the US$23 billion Dogecoin cryptocurrency, embraced by Elon Musk, has left an indelible mark on internet culture.
“She quietly passed away as if asleep while I caressed her,” Sato wrote on her blog, expressing her gratitude to the legions of fans who embraced Kabosu, the face of the “Doge” meme. “I think Kabo-chan was the happiest dog in the world. And I was the happiest owner.”
Although Kabosu’s exact birthdate was unknown due to her rescue from a puppy mill where she would have faced an untimely demise, Sato estimated her age to be 18 – a remarkable lifespan surpassing the average for a shiba inu breed. Her birthday was celebrated each November, a cherished tradition among her devoted followers.
The story of Kabosu’s rise to internet stardom is a testament to the power of serendipity and the enduring appeal of adorable canine companions. In 2010, just two years after adopting Kabosu, Sato captured a seemingly ordinary photo of her pet crossing her paws on the sofa, her fluffy form exuding an irresistible charm. Little did Sato know that this image, when shared on her blog, would ignite a viral phenomenon that would transcend borders and captivate millions.
The image found its way to the online forum Reddit, where it blossomed into a meme that transformed Kabosu into an internet sensation, her beguiling expression inspiring a lexicon of goofy, broken English captions that revealed the inner thoughts of shiba inus, affectionately dubbed “doge.”
But Kabosu’s journey didn’t stop there. Her iconic image later transformed into an NFT digital artwork that sold for a staggering US$4 million, solidifying her place in the annals of internet history. More significantly, Kabosu’s meme inspired the creation of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that was initially conceived as a joke by two software engineers but has since evolved into the eighth-most valuable digital currency, boasting a market capitalization of US$23 billion.
Dogecoin’s meteoric rise has garnered the support of high-profile figures such as hip-hop star Snoop Dogg, Shark Tank entrepreneur Mark Cuban, and Kiss bassist Gene Simmons. However, its most fervent advocate has undoubtedly been the billionaire Elon Musk, who frequently jokes about the currency on X (formerly Twitter), sending its value soaring and hailing it as “the people’s crypto.”
As news of Kabosu’s passing spread, tributes poured in from around the globe, reflecting the profound impact she had on internet culture and the hearts of millions. Sato, now 62, expressed her gratitude for the “invisible power” of prayers from fans worldwide that helped Kabosu overcome her battle with leukaemia and liver disease in late 2022.
In a testament to Kabosu’s enduring legacy, a US$100,000 statue funded by Own The Doge, a crypto organization dedicated to the meme, was unveiled in a park in Sakura, Sato’s hometown east of Tokyo, just last November. Sato and Own The Doge have also donated substantial sums to international charities, including more than US$1 million to Save the Children – a contribution the non-governmental organization hailed as “the single largest crypto contribution” it has ever received.
