Kabosu, Shiba Inu Behind Hilarious Meme, Dies at 18

Kabosu, a Shiba Inu known as the “Doge” meme and a global Internet sensation, died on May 24 at the age of 18, her husband, Japanese kindergarten teacher Atuko Sato, confirmed on Instagram.

Known for her expressive expressions and funny captions attached to her photos, the beloved dog has won the hearts of millions of people around the world and has become an icon of funny and popular internet culture. “Kabosu is now on vacation,” Sato wrote in a touching blog post.

Dogecoin's official X handle tweeted confirming the news.

“Today Kabosu, a common friend and inspiration of our community has passed away peacefully in human arms. The impact this one dog has had on the world is immeasurable. She was a being who knew only joy and boundless love.

Please keep her spirit and her family in your hearts, and most importantly, carry her with you as your story continues – we are all lucky to have touched and shaped ours.

In the year In 2008, Sato adopted Kabosu, who named her “Kabosu” after the citrus fruit because the dog has a round face that resembles the fruit.

The kabosu viral meme led to the creation of Dogecoin (DOGE) in 2013, which began as a joke currency and is currently the world's largest meme coin by market capitalization.

Doge's success has opened the floodgates for other dog-themed tokens, including Shiba Innu Coin (SHIB) and FLOKI; These have since gained a lot of momentum in the cryptocurrency industry.

In late December 2022, Kabosu was reported to be terminally ill with leukemia, although Sato reported that her health had improved shortly after the diagnosis.