Giko, also known as Giko Neko (ギコ猫), is one of the internet’s earliest and most iconic cat characters, born in the depths of Japanese online culture. Emerging from the text-based world of 2channel (2chan) around 1998–1999, Giko was originally crafted as Shift-JIS (Japanese ASCII-style) art, featuring a simple but expressive cat face made from keyboard characters. With large dotted eyes, a wide Cyrillic “Д” mouth, and sometimes a sweat drop or mischievous smirk, Giko quickly became a symbol of the forum's irreverent tone. Its catchphrase "Itte yoshi" (いってよし)—a phrase that could mean "you may go" or, more darkly, "go die" depending on the kanji—captured the edgy humor and chaotic energy of the early Japanese web.

More than just a meme, Giko became a cultural artifact. It starred in early internet Flash animations, inspired fan-made merchandise, and was often depicted in a fictional relationship with another ASCII cat, Shii. As a mascot of 2chan, Giko helped shape the aesthetic that would later influence global platforms like 4chan. Today, Giko found new life through the crypto world, emerging as a nostalgic memecoin on the Ethereum blockchain. With its roots in anonymous creativity and its place in the digital folklore of the web, Giko stands as a forerunner to today’s viral cats—long before Grumpy Cat or Nyan Cat ever hit the screen.