Ako's Shrugging Meme Has Been Growing Online Since 2010

About

Ako Shrug is a reaction image of Ako Suminoe from the manga series Kissxsis shrugging and smirking, a puff of breath escaping her mouth. The meme has been used online since as early as 2010 and became increasingly popular throughout the 2020s, seeing a perceived increase in use in March 2026. The reaction image is used to show emotions of nonchalance and communicate a shrug.

Origin

The exact origins of the image's use as a meme are unclear. According to a Tineye reverse image search, the meme was first used as early as November 4th, 2010, on The Escapist forums. Other now-unavailable uses of the meme shown on Tineye include Tumblr and 4chan uploads between 2010 and 2015.

The image of Ako shrugging originates from the manga series Kissxsis, which ran for 25 volumes between December 19th, 2005 and September 21st, 2021. The manga series is about a boy who falls into a love triangle with his twin step-sisters, Ako and Riko.

Spread

The meme spread throughout the 2010s and 2020s as a reaction image, also inspiring some edits.

On July 15th, 2016, an edit of the meme was posted to Imgur by PetusPorsinosabes, gaining about 1,200 views in 10 years.

On January 13th, 2022, Tumblr user demilypyro posted a version of the meme showing Ako with a hammer as an answer to a submission reading, "Not all trans fem people are the same!!! [sees you also use hammers for monster hunter] fuck," the joke being that trans fem people use hammers in Monster Hunter games, gaining over 1,800 notes in four years.

In March 2026, the meme experienced a surge in popularity. On March 18th, 2026, X user @roomsick_ posted the meme under the caption, "If you’re a virgin you can’t be a fan of sex, you’re a larper!" garnering over 3,800 likes and 360 reposts in two days.

Various Examples

Search Interest

Unavailable

External References