🌈🐕ciao

May 24, 2024 5:00 AM

窓からは柔らかな光が射し込み、
[Soft light streamed through the window]
窓の外では鳥たちが歌う美しい朝に、
[Outside, birds were singing on a beautiful morning]
私に撫でられながら眠るようにそっと逝きました。
[As I petted her, she passed away gently, as if falling asleep]
長い間かぼちゃんを愛して下さったみなさま、本当にありがとうございました。
[To everyone who has loved Kabo-chan for a long time, thank you very much]
かぼちゃんは世界一幸せな犬だったと思います。そして私は世界一幸せな飼い主でした。
[I believe Kabo-chan was the happiest dog in the world, and I was the happiest owner]

Kabosu, the beloved Shiba-Inu behind the globally popular Doge meme, has passed away peacefully at home today at the age of 18.

This sweet girl, abandoned by a shuttered puppy mill, had ended up in a kill shelter before being rescued and nursed back to health by kindergarten teacher Atsuko Sato in 2008. She was named "Kabosu" after the round fruit that her furry head resembled. Photos of a wary Kabo-chan from Sato's blog formed the basis for the popular Doge meme circa 2013, which spread into a whole series of Shiba-centric lore, the mascot of an ironic cryptocurrency, and even got her a lovely statue (and a manhole cover) in her hometime prefecture of Sakura.

Sato gamely documented Kabo-chan's charmed life (and her feline friends) on her blog and YouTube channel; a brush with leukemia and liver disease in 2022 (previously) elicited a wave of support and love from around the world, and she soon made a "miraculous" recovery and lived happily and well for another 18 months.

For locals, a farewell gathering is planned for Sunday, May 26th, from 1-4pm at dog-friendly hangout spot of Kaori Flowers in Narita, with a larger event planned for the beautiful Sakura Furusato Plaza when the weather cools later in the year.

Sato's obit post closes:

かぼちゃんは今もまだにこにこ笑ってシッポを振って
[Kabo-chan is still smiling happily and wagging her tail]

私に寄り添ってくれていると思います。きっとこれからもずっと
[I believe she is still staying close to me. Surely, from now on and forever.]

posted by Rhaomi (60 comments total)

Dogs make the world a nicer place.

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posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:03 AM on May 24 [6 favorites]

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posted by lordrunningclam at 5:06 AM on May 24

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Eighteen may be the longest we can hope for, but it is never, ever long enough.
posted by Countess Elena at 5:06 AM on May 24 [21 favorites]

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posted by limeonaire at 5:07 AM on May 24

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posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:15 AM on May 24

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posted by HearHere at 5:15 AM on May 24

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posted by drworm at 5:30 AM on May 24

much cute

very joy for world

so rest

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posted by lalochezia at 5:37 AM on May 24 [28 favorites]

Much .
posted by Brachinus at 6:07 AM on May 24 [3 favorites]

So .
posted by jacquilynne at 6:10 AM on May 24 [3 favorites]

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posted by I claim sanctuary at 6:11 AM on May 24

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posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 6:14 AM on May 24

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posted by Faint of Butt at 6:19 AM on May 24

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posted by dlugoczaj at 6:25 AM on May 24

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posted by djseafood at 6:32 AM on May 24

I would love to collect phrases for a new song titled "blessed are the pet bloggers".
posted by amtho at 6:41 AM on May 24 [4 favorites]

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posted by evilDoug at 6:41 AM on May 24

Joining Oolong in eternity.

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posted by kaibutsu at 6:46 AM on May 24 [9 favorites]

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posted by mumimor at 6:46 AM on May 24

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posted by eirias at 6:51 AM on May 24

Dogecoin up over $0.16 today, FWIW
posted by chavenet at 6:56 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]

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posted by confluency at 6:58 AM on May 24

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posted by Mr. Bad Example at 7:01 AM on May 24

just sitting here crying my eyes out over a dog(e) that I never met.
what a beautiful farewell. thanks for the translation, Rhaomi.
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posted by martin q blank at 7:03 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]

Rare is the Good Dog who can bring the amounts of joy to others that Kabosu-chan brought.

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posted by May Kasahara at 7:16 AM on May 24 [5 favorites]

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posted by praemunire at 7:29 AM on May 24

Sweet baby 🥺

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posted by supermedusa at 7:37 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]

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posted by bryon at 7:39 AM on May 24

Good girl, Kabosu.

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posted by azpenguin at 7:42 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]

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posted by Hermione Dies at 7:42 AM on May 24

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posted by Anita Bath at 7:55 AM on May 24

The internet has allowed us to "meet" so many people and animals we never would have before, and the curse of that is having to say goodbye to so many more people and animals than we ever had to before.

Sleep well, sweet Kabosu and thanks to Ms. Sato for sharing her with us all.
posted by kimberussell at 7:55 AM on May 24 [9 favorites]

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posted by trip and a half at 8:24 AM on May 24

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posted by HypotheticalWoman at 8:24 AM on May 24

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posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien at 8:31 AM on May 24

Brought so much joy and whimsy to the world. Good dog. The bestest dog(e).
posted by davidmsc at 8:46 AM on May 24 [2 favorites]

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posted by eckeric at 9:02 AM on May 24

Kabosu, you will live on, memorialized on my pickup that just won't die.
posted by xedrik at 9:15 AM on May 24 [16 favorites]

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posted by 43rdAnd9th at 9:29 AM on May 24

I went out for lunch today, and as I was driving back there was a new veterinary office that had one of those fancy LED signs. It was showing pictures of the dogs that were treated there. When it switched to a picture of Kabo-chan with a fancy border, it affected me more than I thought it would.
posted by Quonab at 9:31 AM on May 24 [5 favorites]

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posted by mfoight at 9:32 AM on May 24

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posted by ducky l'orange at 9:36 AM on May 24

No pupper is a meme,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the zeitgeist,
A part of the milieu.
If a doge scroll off the timeline,
the feed is the less.
As well as if Cyanide & Happiness were.
As well as if Sarah's Scribbles
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each doggo’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in memekind.
Therefore, check not to know
For whom the notification sounds,
It sounds for thee.
posted by straw at 9:37 AM on May 24 [9 favorites]

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posted by snsranch at 9:38 AM on May 24

there is something utterly wholesome about that lovely dog having been the (very long term!) companion to a kindergarten teacher. I know they gave each other so much love.

dusty in here...
posted by supermedusa at 9:40 AM on May 24 [3 favorites]

Such life. Many joys. Wow.

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I'm not crying, you're crying.
posted by 1adam12 at 9:41 AM on May 24 [4 favorites]

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Such life. Much joy. Wow.
posted by Kattullus at 10:33 AM on May 24 [3 favorites]

Good dog

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posted by JoeXIII007 at 11:30 AM on May 24 [2 favorites]

May choirs of heavenly shiba angels sing thee to thy rest. 😢
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:45 AM on May 24 [3 favorites]

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posted by Pendragon at 12:19 PM on May 24

[F]
posted by straight at 12:22 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]

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posted by zbaco at 1:04 PM on May 24

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posted by gtrwolf at 1:14 PM on May 24

Aww heck
posted by Glinn at 1:15 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]

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posted by gentlyepigrams at 2:23 PM on May 24

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posted by Stilling Still Dreaming at 6:36 PM on May 24

What a good doge 💔
posted by Space Kitty at 9:53 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]

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posted by Lynsey at 8:28 AM on May 25

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posted by symbioid at 11:03 AM on May 25

Sato has a new post on the memorial event full of photos! Translation:

Kabochan's farewell party was full of smiles

Messages on Kabo-chan's departure have been pouring in from around the world on the blog, Instagram, and X. Since the day of Kabo-chan's passing, we have been busy with interviews from several countries and preparing for the farewell ceremony. I haven't had the time to slowly go through the messages we've received, but I am deeply moved and filled with gratitude knowing how many people loved Kabo-chan.

We held the farewell ceremony on the 26th. Surrounded by beautiful flowers, Kabo-chan looked like a princess. At that time, Kabo-chan's rigor mortis had released, and she had returned to her usual soft state. The flowers conveyed the feelings of those who sent them, filling me with an inexplicable warmth.

Kaoori from the flower shop, who had planned a three-day break, found that Kabo-chan had passed away on the first morning of her break. She canceled her enjoyable plans and, with little sleep, decorated the venue and arranged flowers for the altar in honor of Kabo-chan.

Outside the venue, we displayed handmade gifts from Kabo-chan's fans and nostalgic photos of fond memories. One person commented on a photo, saying, "She was so young," and was secretly reprimanded for it. We also placed items that reminded us of Kabo-chan's warmth. Friends from the dog community helped out all day. It felt like a fun event, didn't it?

When I placed Kabo-chan in the passenger seat of the car and set off, I said:

"Come on, Kabo-chan! Let's go on our final adventure."

Many people came to say goodbye. The long line that formed after 1 PM continued past the planned end time of 4 PM. I heard some people waited in line for over an hour. There were over 250 groups, so I believe around 500 people attended. To everyone, thank you very much. (ToT)

Now, what I feel in my heart is not sadness, but a warm, gentle, and refreshing feeling. After Kabo-chan became physically impaired, I felt like we were one in body and spirit. But now, I feel that Kabo-chan's spirit has fully entered my heart, making us truly one. In the pocket that has formed in my heart, Kabo-chan's little head peeks out, smiling.

We will be together forever.

posted by Rhaomi at 6:35 PM on May 29 [4 favorites]