Kabosumama/Instagram
Kabosu, the Shiba Inu dog whose beaming face started the ubiquitous “doge” meme and became the face of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, died peacefully Friday at his home in Sakura, a city east of Tokyo. She was 18 years old.
Kabosu’s death was announced on social media by owner Atsuko Sato, who wrote: “To all of you who loved Kabosu, On the morning of May 24, Kabosu crossed the rainbow bridge. Thank you all very much for your support over the years. She passed away very peacefully without suffering, as if she fell asleep feeling the warmth of my hands caressing her.
“Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years,” Sato continued. “I’m sure Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world. This makes me the happiest owner in the world. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has sent us so much love.
Kabosu was adopted by Sato, a kindergarten teacher, in 2008 after a Shiba Inu breeder went bankrupt and sent his dogs to a shelter. When Sato began posting photos of Kabosu on social media, his followers quickly adopted the dog’s happy smile and laughing eyes. With fans soon giving two-word descriptions to the photos – “Wide awake!” » or “Such wow!”, Kabosu’s reputation on the Internet was assured.
In fact, Kabosu’s face became so linked to what became known as the “doge” meme that a resemblance to Shiba Inu was adopted for the logo of the cryptocurrency coin Dogecoin which made millionaire investors in 2021 before running out of steam.
One photo of Kabosu, in particular, captured the public imagination: head tilted, eyes looking directly into a camera lens, eyebrows seemingly pointed, Kabosu’s smiling expression is the Mona Lisa of memes, inscrutable and open to many interpretations.
In a 2013 interview, Sato said Kabosu was named while at the shelter in honor of a round Japanese citrus fruit. “I thought the name was perfect, so I kept it,” Sato said.
A farewell party for Kabosu is planned for Sunday in Narita.
News Source : deadline.com
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