Kabosu, the famous Japanese Shiba Inu dog behind the viral Internet meme “Great Dane,” has died at the age of 18.
The dog’s look away expression became the face of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin and went viral on social media around 2013.
Kabosu’s owner announced her death in a poem on her blog. She passed away quietly as if she fell asleep while I was petting her, wrote Atsuko Sato, reports BBC News.
She suffered from leukemia and liver disease and died on Friday, May 24, according to the outlet.
“At 7:50 a.m. I fell into a deep sleep,” the song continues, according to NBC News and as translated by Agence France-Presse. “I think Kabo-chan was the luckiest dog in the world. And I was the luckiest owner.”
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Sato, a 62-year-old kindergarten teacher from Sakura, said she will hold a farewell party for her furry friend on Sunday, May 26, at the outlet.
Dogecoin also paid tribute to Kabosu in a post shared on X.
“Today, Kabosu, a mutual friend and inspiration to our community, passed away peacefully in the arms of her loved one,” the May 24 post began. “The impact this dog has made around the world is immeasurable.”
“She was a being who knew only happiness and boundless love. Please keep her spirit and her family in your heart, and most importantly carry her with you as your story continues – we are all lucky that her spirit touched and shaped ours.”
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Owner Atsuko Sato with Kabosu in March 2024.
PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images
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The famous image of Kabosu — taken by Sato in 2010 and shared on her blog — was sold as a non-fungible token, or NFT, for $4 million in 2021, according to NBC News.
Dogecoin has been supported by people such as Snoop Dogg, Gene Simmons and Elon Musk, writes BBC News.
Over the years, the iconic meme has been used to comment on world events and pop culture news, while the image also appears on manhole covers in Sato’s hometown of Sakura. A bronze statue of the dog was unveiled in the city in November 2023, according to local media Asahi Shimbun.
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Kobus was diagnosed with leukemia and liver disease at the end of 2022, reports AFP. In a recent interview, Sato told the paper that the “invisible power” of prayers from Kabosu’s fans helped her pull through.
As a rescue pup, Kabosu’s real age is unknown, but Sato estimated him to be 18 in February.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education