Shobon (しょぼん) recognizable by the emoticon face (´・ω・｀) originated on 2channel (2ch) in the early 2000s as a textual expression of quiet disappointment or resignation. The name literally means crestfallen or dejected, perfectly capturing the soft, sad tone that made him a staple of ASCII art culture.

As Japanese ASCII art spread overseas, Shobon crossed onto 4chan, where his sad little face was reinterpreted as “shobon cat,” a universal reaction image of disappointment. Now, after years in the shadows, it’s time for Shobon to shine on Solana.

Though mostly remembered for his sad little face, Shobon was also adapted into the infamous rage game Syobon Action (Cat Mario), where players suffered endless troll traps in parody Mario levels. Not to be mistaken with Giko, his brash 2ch counterpart, Shobon instead carried the torch of the downtrodden—and somehow became both a meme mascot and a cruel game protagonist along the way.