Kabosu (dog)
 Kabosu and Atsuko Sato in 2023 | |
| Other name(s) | Kabo-chan (かぼちゃん) |
|---|---|
| Species | Dog (Canis familiaris) |
| Breed | Shiba Inu |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | c. November 2, 2005 |
| Died | May 24, 2024 (aged 18) Sakura, Chiba, Japan |
| Cause of death | Leukemia |
| Nation from | Japan |
| Notable role | Internet celebrity |
| Years active | 2010–2024 |
| Known for | Doge meme |
| Owner | Atsuko Sato |
| Named after | Kabosu |
| instagram | |
Kabosu (Japanese: かぼす, pronounced [kabosɯ̥], c. November 2, 2005[1] – May 24, 2024) was a Shiba Inu dog from Japan. Adopted in 2008 by kindergarten teacher Atsuko Sato (佐藤 敦子, Satō Atsuko), she is prominently featured in the original Doge meme and the Dogecoin cryptocurrency.
Life
[edit]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.[2] The use of the intentionally misspelled "Doge" dates back to June 2005, when it was mentioned in an episode of Homestar Runner's puppet series.[3] She was also associated with Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency inspired by the Doge meme.[4][5][6]
On December 28, 2022, Sato announced that Kabosu was seriously ill with leukemia, but soon after that her health had improved.[7][8] 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.[9] A memorial service dedicated to Kabosu drew 50 people, including some who were involved in the cryptocurrency industry.[10]
Reception and legacy
[edit]
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".[2]
Convergence regarded the image of Kabosu as, at one point, a central cultural icon, being used in commercial advertising because it was widely recognized.[11] A non-fungible token of the meme sold for $4 million.[12] In 2023, a park bench monument to Kabosu was installed in Sakura, Chiba.[13] A manhole cover with her image was also installed in Sakura in 2024.[14] A documentary about Kabosu and her owner, titled underDOGE, is being developed by Scout Productions.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "海外で大人気になった柴犬「かぼすちゃん」の魅力とは" [The allure of Kabosu, the shiba inu who became super popular overseas, explained]. Dōbutsu Dōmei (in Japanese). March 8, 2020. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020.
誕生日 2005年11月2日（推定）
[Birthday: November 2, 2005 (inferred)] - ^ a b c Chayka, Kyle (December 31, 2013). "Wow this is doge". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
- ^ Wickman, Forrest (November 15, 2013). "How Do You Pronounce "Doge"?". Slate. Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ "Kabosu dies: Shiba inu dog was meme and face of Dogecoin". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Cooban, Anna (May 24, 2024). "The dog who inspired Dogecoin has died | CNN Business". CNN. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Kwai, Isabella (May 24, 2024). "Kabosu, Shiba Inu Who Helped Define the Doge Meme, Dies at 18". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ Mullholland, Tara (December 28, 2022). "Shiba inu who inspired 'doge' meme is seriously ill with leukemia". CNN. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Shiba Inu behind 'Doge' meme makes surprising recovery, owner announces". Yahoo News. December 30, 2022. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Kwai, Isabella (May 24, 2024). "Kabosu, Shiba Inu Who Helped Define the Doge Meme, Dies at 18". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Mahar, Yunisu. "Kabosu, world's most famous Shiba Inu, passes away at 18". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Nani, Albi (March 24, 2022). "The doge worth 88 billion dollars: A case study of Dogecoin". Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies. 28 (6): 1719–1736. doi:10.1177/13548565211070417.
- ^ "Kabosu dies: Shiba inu dog was meme and face of Dogecoin". BBC News. May 24, 2024. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Japan creates public monument to original doge meme dog in her home prefecture". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. December 21, 2023. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Baseel, Casey (March 1, 2024). "Such recognition! Official doge meme dog manhole cover installed in Japan【Photos】". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ White, Peter (May 30, 2024). "Dogecoin Meme Dog Kabosu To Be Subject Of Documentary From 'Queer Eye' Producer Scout". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Taking a walk with Kabosu-chan (かぼすちゃんとおさんぽ) A blog by Atsuko Sato