Kabosu, the Shiba Inu who rose to fame as the face of the "doge" meme, has passed away peacefully at the age of 17. Her owner, Atsuko Sato, a kindergarten teacher from Sakura, Japan, shared the news in a heartfelt post on her blog.
“She quietly passed away as if asleep while I caressed her,” Sato wrote, according to a translation by AFP. "I think Kabo-chan was the happiest dog in the world. And I was the happiest owner."
Sato plans to hold a farewell party for Kabosu, known as "Kabo-chan," on Sunday.
Photo: Doge Meme Generator
From Meme to Icon
Kabosu's journey to internet stardom began in 2010 when Sato posted a picture of the dog with a quizzical, side-eyed look.
The image quickly went viral, particularly on Tumblr and various online chatrooms, and became known as "doge."
This meme format, often featuring colorful captions in Comic Sans font, expressed faux amazement with phrases like "wow," "such amaze," and "much wow."
The meme became a staple of internet culture, used to comment on world events, pop culture, and even political discourse.
Photo: Dagens Media
Kabosu's influence extended beyond the digital realm.
The "doge" meme was used in a 2014 advertising campaign by the Stockholm public transport authority, featuring captions like "such cheap," "many summer," and "wow."
Kabosu's image also became synonymous with Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that paid tribute to the dog on social media, describing her as a "being who knew only happiness and limitless love."
In Sakura, Kabosu's hometown, the doge image is celebrated on manhole covers, and earlier this year, a bronze statue of Kabosu was unveiled, funded by donations from fans worldwide.
