Kabosu (dog) explained
was a Shiba Inu dog from Japan. Adopted in 2008 by kindergarten teacher, she is prominently featured in the original Doge meme and the Dogecoin cryptocurrency.[1]
Life
Kabosu was a pedigree dog who was sent to an animal shelter when her puppy mill shut down. She was adopted in 2008 by Japanese kindergarten teacher Atsuko Sato, and named after the citrus fruit kabosu by a volunteer at the shelter. Sato kept the name, because she thought the dog had a round face like the fruit.[2]
Kabosu was first pictured in a 2010 blog post by Sato; afterward, variations of the pictures using overlaid Comic Sans text were posted from a Tumblr blog, Shiba Confessions. The use of the intentionally misspelled "Doge" dates back to June 2005, when it was mentioned in an episode of Homestar Runners puppet series.[3] She was also associated with Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency inspired by the Doge meme.[4] [5]
On December 28, 2022, Sato announced that Kabosu was seriously ill with leukemia, but soon after that her health had improved.[6] [7] On May 24, 2024, it was announced on Sato's blog that she died at the age of 18, at 7:50 a.m. JST, in Sakura, Chiba.[8] A memorial service dedicated to Kabosu drew 50 people, including some who were involved in the cryptocurrency industry.[9]
Reception and legacy
In Japan, Kabosu and Sato were known as pet and owner rather than a meme, and her blog Taking a walk with Kabosu-chan was the fourth-most popular pet-related blog in the country as of December 2013. Reacting to the meme, she explained, "[t]o be honest, some pictures are strange for me, but it's still funny! I'm very impressed with their skills and taste. Around me, nobody knows about the Doge meme. Maybe I don't understand memes very well, because I'm living such an analog life." Sato has also expressed that she had learned that "the risk of the internet is that anyone in the world can see my life on my blog".
Convergence regarded the image of Kabosu as, at one point, a central cultural icon, being used in commercial advertising because it was widely recognized.[10] A non-fungible token of the meme sold for $4 million.[11] In 2023, a park bench monument to Kabosu was installed in Sakura, Chiba.[12] A manhole cover with her image was also installed in Sakura in 2024.[13] A documentary about Kabosu and her owner, titled underDOGE, is being developed by Scout Productions.[14]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- News: Kwai . Isabella . 24 May 2024 . Kabosu, Shiba Inu Who Helped Define the Doge Meme, Dies at 18 . 25 May 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . May 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524121506/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/24/world/asia/kabosu-doge-meme-dead.html . live .
- Web site: Chayka . Kyle . December 31, 2013 . Wow this is doge . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140314001541/http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/31/5248762/doge-meme-rescue-dog-wow . March 14, 2014 . December 31, 2013 . . Vox Media.
- Web site: Wickman . Forrest . November 15, 2013 . How Do You Pronounce "Doge"? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131122223432/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/11/15/doge_pronunciation_how_do_you_pronounce_the_name_of_the_shibe_doge_meme.html . November 22, 2013 . November 22, 2013 . Slate.
- Web site: Kabosu dies: Shiba inu dog was meme and face of Dogecoin . May 24, 2024 . www.bbc.com . en-GB . May 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524093810/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czkkr8l7jjxo . live .
- Web site: Cooban . Anna . May 24, 2024 . The dog who inspired Dogecoin has died CNN Business . May 24, 2024 . CNN . en . May 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524163025/https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/24/business/kabosu-shiba-inu-dogecoin-dog-dies/index.html . live .
- Web site: Mullholland . Tara . December 28, 2022 . Shiba inu who inspired 'doge' meme is seriously ill with leukemia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221228075024/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/28/asia/shiba-inu-doge-meme-seriously-ill-leukaemia-intl-hnk/index.html . December 28, 2022 . CNN.
- Web site: December 30, 2022 . Shiba Inu behind 'Doge' meme makes surprising recovery, owner announces . October 24, 2023 . Yahoo News . en-US . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820085243/https://news.yahoo.com/shiba-inu-behind-doge-meme-194702431.html . live .
- News: Kwai . Isabella . May 24, 2024 . Kabosu, Shiba Inu Who Helped Define the Doge Meme, Dies at 18 . May 24, 2024 . . 0362-4331 . May 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524121506/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/24/world/asia/kabosu-doge-meme-dead.html . live .
- Web site: Mahar . Yunisu . Kabosu, world's most famous Shiba Inu, passes away at 18 . 2024-05-29 . The Asahi Shimbun . en . May 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529042806/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15282249 . live .
- Nani . Albi . March 24, 2022 . The doge worth 88 billion dollars: A case study of Dogecoin . . 28 . 6 . 1719–1736 . 10.1177/13548565211070417. free .
- Web site: 2024-05-24 . Kabosu dies: Shiba inu dog was meme and face of Dogecoin . 2024-05-30 . BBC News . en-GB . May 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524093810/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czkkr8l7jjxo . live .
- Web site: December 21, 2023 . Japan creates public monument to original doge meme dog in her home prefecture . December 29, 2023 . SoraNews24 -Japan News- . en-US . December 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229062547/https://soranews24.com/2023/12/22/japan-creates-public-monument-to-original-doge-meme-dog-in-her-home-prefecture%E3%80%90photos%E3%80%91/ . live .
- News: Baseel . Casey . Such recognition! Official doge meme dog manhole cover installed in Japan【Photos】 . May 10, 2024 . SoraNews24 -Japan News- . March 1, 2024 . May 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509105741/https://soranews24.com/2024/03/01/such-recognition-official-doge-meme-dog-manhole-cover-installed-in-japan%E3%80%90photos%E3%80%91/ . live .
- Web site: White . Peter . 2024-05-30 . Dogecoin Meme Dog Kabosu To Be Subject Of Documentary From 'Queer Eye' Producer Scout . 2024-05-30 . Deadline . en-US . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530155421/https://deadline.com/2024/05/dogecoin-dog-kabosu-documentary-1235944176/ . live .