Taiki, a Shiba Inu photographed in 2008, is considered the predecessor of the Doge meme and has significantly impacted internet culture.
A Pre-Doge Legend
Taiki's photo was uploaded in 2008 and became one of the most recognized images of a Shiba Inu on the early internet. It predates not only Doge but also Bitcoin's first price listing. Taiki remains an unnoticed yet crucial element in the history of memes.
Referenced and Influential
Taiki's image was widely used on various websites and even appeared on Wikipedia pages dedicated to Doge. These pages refer to "the dog meme from which it is inspired" — that is Taiki. Furthermore, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, embedded this photograph as a cultural shorthand for memes.
The Revival of a Meme
In 2025, a small group of crypto builders and meme historians began a project to bring Taiki back into the spotlight. They reached out to the original photographer's family, who also holds BTC and DOGE, exploring ways to immortalize Taiki on-chain as a decentralized tribute.
Taiki’s story is one of quiet legacy, a dog that unknowingly shaped a genre and is only now receiving the recognition it deserves.
