Shiba Inu Kabosu Died At Age 18, The Dog Who Inspired “Dogecoin”

Kabosu, known for starring in numerous memes and inspiring the Dogecoin cryptocurrency, has died, as confirmed by her owner.

Atsuko Sato, a 62-year-old kindergarten teacher, posted a heartfelt poem on her blog on Friday. Which expressing gratitude to “everyone who loved her.

The Japanese Shiba Inu Kabosu, who was 18 years old, on died day “fell into a deep sleep” at 7:50 a.m. on Friday morning. According to her owner, Atsuko Sato, who shared the news on her blog.

Outside the window, birds sang on a lovely morning. As I stroked her fur, Kabosu quietly died, wrote Sato, a kindergarten teacher in the Japanese city of Sakura. I believe she was the happiest dog in the world.

Origination of the Doge:

The original meme featured a female Shiba Inu dog named Kabosu. Kabosu’s owner, Atsuko Sato, first posted a picture of her in a blog in 2010. Later on, variations of the picture with overlaid Comic Sans text started appearing on a Tumblr blog called Shiba Confessions.

The term “Doge,” intentionally misspelled, goes back to June 2005. When it was mentioned in an episode of Homestar Runner’s puppet series. The meme gained popularity while it was shared on Reddit in October 2010 in a post titled LMBO LOOK @ THIS FUKKEN DOGE.

Another Shiba Inu dog that appeared in the meme is Suki, a female owned by photographer Jonathan Fleming from San Francisco. One day, Jonathan’s wife accidentally washed a scarf, causing it to shrink. In February 2010, Jonathan took a picture of Suki wearing the shrunken scarf outside on a chilly night.

The Rise of Doge:

In 2013 spread:
The Doge meme’s ascent to fame began in July 2013 when online searches for it started to surge. By August of the same year, the meme had infiltrated Reddit’s r/MURICA subreddit. As courtesy of users from 4chan’s random imageboard, /b/. This widespread dissemination propelled its visibility across the internet.

However, the meme encountered an unexpected twist toward the end of December 2013. Members of the U.S. Congress produced material mimicking the Doge style. The Huffington Post observed that this adoption by politicians led to a decline in the meme’s popularity. While, with some suggesting it had been “killed” by its appropriation in political contexts.

In the same month, December 2013, another significant development occurred. Dogecoin, a new cryptocurrency, was introduced, becoming the first digital currency based on an internet meme. This further solidified the Doge meme’s place in internet culture.

The combination of Dogecoin’s introduction and the widespread use of the Comic Sans MS font. Which contributed to what one writer described as the meme’s Internet density of a large star.

Doge, A Meme That Endured:
In early 2014, Doge’s popularity remained strong, fueled by internet communities on social media platforms. Which is growing acceptance of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency featuring the meme’s iconic Shiba Inu.

This sustained interest received a significant boost in April 2014 when the Dogecoin community announced plans to sponsor NASCAR driver Josh Wise. By adorning his vehicle with a picture of the Shiba Inu. This event marked Doge’s second major media resurgence, garnering attention from mainstream outlets.

Media coverage of the sponsorship often featured playful phrases associated with the meme, such as “so wow” and “very vroom.” Despite its initial peak in popularity, a report from The Daily Dot in December 2016 noted a decline in Doge’s appeal due to overexposure and commercialization.

However, it remained a stable presence in internet culture, even reclaiming its position among Tumblr’s top 10 shared memes in 2016.

On April Fools’ Day in 2017, China Central Television humorously claimed that Kabosu, the original Doge. Which had passed away, also adding a quirky twist to the meme’s narrative. In 2021, the meme took on a new form of digital ownership when a non-fungible token (NFT) depicting Doge purchased by PleasrDAO for $4 million. While, reflecting its enduring cultural significance.

In 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Doge found itself repurposed as a symbol of resistance. Online groups, such as the North Atlantic Fella Organization (NAFO), adopted Doge as their avatar, using it to share pro-Ukraine content and raise funds for Ukrainian causes, showcasing the meme’s adaptability and continued relevance in contemporary events.

Sato, Kabosu’s owner:

An emotional post by Dogecoin Friday on Reddit referred to Kabosu, the original Shiba Inu featured in the Doge meme, as the community’s “inspiration.” The post celebrated the profound impact Kabosu had made globally, emphasizing her role in shaping the meme’s cultural significance and enduring popularity.

Sato, Kabosu’s owner, shared heartbreaking news in a series of Instagram posts in 2022. She revealed that Kabosu died reasons. She had been diagnosed with leukemia and liver disease, shedding light on the beloved dog’s health struggles.

Despite the challenges, Sato expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the Dogecoin community and announced plans to hold a “farewell gathering” to honor Kabosu’s legacy on Sunday, highlighting the deep bond between Kabosu and her devoted followers.