Kabosu the Shiba Inu

Kabosu, the Shiba Inu who became known worldwide as the face of the "Doge" meme, has a fascinating history. Originally born around November 2, 2005, in Japan, Kabosu was rescued by kindergarten teacher Atsuko Sato in 2008 from a puppy mill that had shut down, leaving her and 19 other Shiba Inus at risk of euthanasia. Kabosu was named after the citrus fruit kabosu by a volunteer at the shelter due to her round face resembling the fruit.

In 2010, Atsuko Sato posted pictures of Kabosu on her blog, including one where Kabosu was sitting on a couch with a quizzical expression, which later became iconic. This photo caught the attention of internet users, especially on platforms like Reddit, where the "Doge" meme was born. The meme typically featured Kabosu's image with multi-colored Comic Sans text in broken English, conveying a dog's internal monologue with phrases like "such wow" and "very pet."

The Doge meme's popularity skyrocketed in 2013, leading to further cultural impacts. Kabosu's image was used in various contexts, including being the face of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency created as a humorous take on Bitcoin but which gained significant traction. Dogecoin's value saw tremendous fluctuations, notably influenced by endorsements from high-profile figures like Elon Musk.

Kabosu also became a subject for NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), with her image being auctioned off in June 2021 for a record-breaking amount for a meme NFT, the proceeds of which were significantly donated to various charities by Sato.

Over the years, Kabosu's influence extended to various meme formats and even inspired other meme coins like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Floki (FLOKI). She continued to live a relatively normal life in Sakura, Japan, with Sato, becoming a symbol of the internet's love for dogs and meme culture.

Kabosu passed away on May 24, 2024, at the age of 18, after battling health issues including leukemia and liver disease. Her legacy, however, continues to live on through the memes, cryptocurrencies, and the hearts of many internet users around the globe.