Kabosu, the beloved Japanese dog who inspired the Doge meme and left a lasting impact on internet culture for over a decade, has passed away after a prolonged illness, her owner announced. She was an 18-year-old Shiba Inu.
Atsuko Sato, the owner of Kabosu, revealed that Kabosu peacefully passed away at 7:50 am on Friday, entering a state of profound slumber within the comfort of her home. Sato conveyed this news in a blog post on her website, stating that Kabosu has now found tranquility.
Sato further described the serene atmosphere surrounding Kabosu’s departure, with gentle sunlight streaming through the window and the harmonious melodies of birds filling the air on that beautiful morning. As Sato tenderly caressed Kabosu, she peacefully departed, resembling a peaceful slumber.
Kabosu, a female Shiba Inu, was adopted by Japanese kindergarten teacher Atsuko Sato in 2008. Photos of Kabosu went viral on Reddit in 2010, becoming the widely recognized Doge meme that has been shared countless times since. A specific photo, capturing Kabosu with a distinctive, almost mocking and funny expression, quickly spread across the web.
The picture of Kabosu is also famously employed as the emblem for the Dogecoin cryptocurrency. Furthermore, in April 2023, Elon Musk momentarily substituted the Twitter/X logo with Kabosu’s image, triggering a notable upsurge in the cryptocurrency’s value.
Kabosu had been battling health issues for several years. In December 2022, her owner revealed that she had been diagnosed with acute cholangiohepatitis and chronic lymphoma leukaemia after she stopped eating and drinking voluntarily for a brief period.
