REVEALED: Doge’s Real Name Was Never Kabosu

In a quiet suburb of Sakura, Japan, where the cherry blossoms bloom with soft elegance each spring, the world’s most famous Shiba Inu lived an equally quiet and graceful life — far from the chaotic energy of the internet that made her a legend. Most people know her as Kabosu, the face of the "Doge" meme that took over the world. But new information shared by those closest to her suggests a surprising twist in the story:

Her real name was Mitsuki.

Yes, the gentle-eyed, side-glancing Shiba Inu whose image launched a thousand memes, cryptocurrencies, and viral jokes was not originally named Kabosu at all. According to a close family friend of her owner, Atsuko Sato, the name “Kabosu” was a nickname — a cute, fruit-themed pseudonym for online posts. Her true name at home, spoken during quiet moments and daily routines, was Mitsuki.

A Name Whispered, Not Posted

The revelation emerged earlier this year, following the passing of Kabosu in May 2024, when longtime friends and neighbors began sharing memories of the dog who quietly became a global icon.

“Everyone online called her Kabosu,” said longtime friend and fellow animal rescuer Hiroko Tanaka. “But Atsuko-san always called her Mitsuki at home. It was her real name, the one she responded to. ‘Mitsuki-chan, come eat,’ or ‘Mitsuki, go to bed.’ That was the voice she heard every day.”

The name “Mitsuki” (美月) is often written with kanji meaning “beautiful moon,” and those who knew the dog say the name matched her temperament — calm, luminous, and quietly magnetic.

“She had this peaceful presence,” said Tanaka. “She wasn’t loud or hyper. She observed everything with those thoughtful eyes. The name suited her.”

Why “Kabosu” Then?

According to Atsuko Sato’s early blog entries, she began using the nickname “Kabosu” — taken from the tart Japanese citrus fruit — as a fun online alias when sharing pictures of her adopted pets. At the time, she was simply posting for a small circle of readers. The name stuck after a photo of Mitsuki lounging on a couch with her paws tucked under and eyes wide was picked up by Reddit and Tumblr users in 2010.

“It was never meant to become a meme,” Sato reportedly told friends later. “She was just Mitsuki to me. But people loved the name ‘Kabosu,’ so I didn’t correct it.”

As the meme spread and eventually evolved into a cryptocurrency symbol (Dogecoin), “Kabosu” became a household name — but at home, she remained Mitsuki. The name was never forgotten.

A Life Far From the Spotlight

Despite her accidental fame, Mitsuki’s life remained unchanged. She spent her days curled up in sunbeams, taking long, slow walks with Sato, and napping alongside the household cats. In interviews, Sato often emphasized that she never saw her dog as a celebrity.

“She didn’t care about memes,” she once wrote on her blog. “She cared about breakfast. She cared about cuddles. She was happiest when the house was quiet and warm.”

This dual identity — global symbol and local companion — now takes on even deeper meaning with the revelation of her real name.

Fans React to Mitsuki

News of the name “Mitsuki” has prompted a wave of emotion across the internet. Many longtime Doge fans are re-evaluating their connection to the meme, seeing the Shiba not just as a pop culture icon, but as a real dog with a gentle name and a peaceful life.

“I always thought she looked like she had stories to tell,” wrote one fan on Reddit. “Now knowing her name was Mitsuki... it just fits. Kabosu was the meme. Mitsuki was the soul.”

Artists have begun creating new tributes featuring the name Mitsuki, often surrounded by crescent moons or soft florals to match the meaning of her name. One piece titled “Mitsuki Under the Stars” has already gone viral among Doge fan pages.