"Elon Musk's Indifference" Japanese Netizens Criticize Dogecoin Model Shiba Inu's Illness

Diagnosis of Kabos Leukemia... Unable to Eat or Drink Alone
"Why Is Dogecoin Supporter Musk Staying Silent?" Criticism

Atsuko Sato recently posted a photo of Kabosu. (Photo by Atsuko Sato on Instagram)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Kabos, the Shiba Inu famous as the model for Dogecoin, is reported to be in critical condition, drawing attention both inside and outside Japan. In particular, criticism is emerging among Japanese netizens that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who sparked the Dogecoin boom, is indifferent to Kabos's health.

According to CNN on the 28th (local time), Kabos, a 17-year-old senior dog, has been diagnosed with acute cholangitis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia and is in critical condition. Atsuko Sato, who raises Kabos, posted on her social media on the 26th, saying, "Kabos is in a very dangerous situation right now," but added, "Still, everything will be fine because he is receiving support from all over the world." According to Sato, Kabos currently cannot drink water or eat by himself. Recently, he has developed jaundice and is receiving antibiotic treatment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kabos has been loved worldwide by creating numerous memes (internet viral content). Starting in 2010, photos of Kabos began trending on social media, leading to many memes, and based on this, Dogecoin was introduced in 2013 using Kabos's face as a motif. Dogecoin, which gained popularity, surged to $400 (about 500,000 KRW) per coin the following year and attracted international attention as CEO Musk frequently mentioned it.

As news of Kabos's critical condition spread, supportive messages for him have poured in mainly on global social media. In a Japanese coin investor group, an article sharing Kabos's critical condition was posted along with messages saying, "Kabos, the model for Dogecoin, is very sick. Everyone, please visit Sato's SNS and send your support." Billy Markus, the creator of Dogecoin, also wished for Kabos's recovery through social media, saying, "Doge is sick. Please pray for him and Sato."

Meanwhile, the fact that Musk has made no comment about the mascot of Dogecoin being in critical condition is causing controversy in Japan. Since Musk has been an ardent supporter of Dogecoin and the coin's value has fluctuated according to his actions, voices are growing that he needs to make a statement.

In fact, even after Kabos's critical condition became known, Musk has continued exchanging tweets with the Dogecoin CEO but has not mentioned Kabos at all. On Japanese social media, criticism is spreading with comments like, "I dislike Musk's indifference to Kabos. Without Kabos, neither Dogecoin nor Shibacoin would exist today, would they?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.