A beloved Japanese Shiba Inu named “Kabosu” (かぼす) captured the hearts of people worldwide with its endearing side-eye expression, eventually becoming the inspiration behind the cryptocurrency “Dogecoin” favored by American billionaire Elon Musk. Unfortunately, its owner confirmed on Friday (May 24) that Kabosu has passed away, leading to an outpouring of condolences from fans around the globe.
Atsuko Sato, 62 years old, announced on Instagram that Kabosu peacefully passed away at the age of 18 under her gentle touch at 7:50 a.m. It seemed as though Kabosu had simply drifted into a peaceful sleep. Crossing over the rainbow bridge, Atsuko expressed deep gratitude for the years of support from everyone.
In her message, Atsuko wrote, “I truly believe Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world, and I was the happiest owner in the world. I sincerely thank everyone who has shown us love.”
Atsuko will hold a farewell ceremony for her beloved dog in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan on Sunday (26th).
Fans expressed deep sorrow in their comments, acknowledging that despite the inevitable parting, Kabosu will forever live on in their hearts.
Recently, Atsuko revealed in an interview with Agence France-Presse at her home that Kabosu was diagnosed with leukemia and liver disease at the end of 2022, with a deteriorating health condition since last year.
Originally abandoned in a trash can by its previous owner, Kabosu was adopted by nursery school teacher Atsuko in 2008. In 2010, Atsuko uploaded a photo of Kabosu sitting with crossed legs, tilting its head and looking at her with an expression of pride, which instantly went viral worldwide. Internet users from around the world turned its adorable and amusing expressions into various memes, naming it “Doge.”
By 2013, its iconic side-eye look caught the attention of two software engineers, leading to the creation of the meme-based cryptocurrency “Dogecoin.”
Following that, Dogecoin gained the favor and praise of American business magnate Elon Musk, causing its market value to skyrocket to $23 billion, making it the eighth largest cryptocurrency globally.
As early as November 2022, the Dogecoin Foundation “Own The Doge” had announced plans to raise funds to create a bronze statue of Kabosu to be placed in “Sakura Hometown Plaza” in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, where it often went for walks. However, due to events such as the collapse of the bankrupt exchange FTX, the project did not raise enough funds at that time.
It wasn’t until November last year, to celebrate Kabosu’s 18th birthday, that fans from around the world finally gathered the necessary funds, allowing the completion and unveiling of Kabosu’s statue on a set of stone sofas in Sakura Hometown Plaza, accompanied by three cats. The four small animal sculptures, each unique and lifelike, are a sight to behold.