Who Found the Lost Kitten? Japan’s Doggie Cop Song

One of the most adorable and well-loved Japanese children’s songs is いぬの おまわりさん (Inu no Omawarisan), or “The Doggie Police Officer.” This sweet and gentle song tells the story of a lost kitten who can’t remember where her home is—and the kind dog policeman who tries to help.

Japanese Lyrics

まいごの　まいごの　こねこちゃん
あなたの　おうちは　どこですか
おうちを　きいても　わからない
なまえを　きいても　わからない
にゃん　にゃん　にゃん　にゃん
にゃん　にゃん　にゃん　にゃん
ないてばかりいる　こねこちゃん
いぬの　おまわりさん　こまってしまって
わん　わん　わん　わん
わん　わん　わん　わん

まいごの　まいごの　こねこちゃん
このこの　おうちは　どこですか
からすに　きいても　わからない
すずめに　きいても　わからない
にゃん　にゃん　にゃん　にゃん
にゃん　にゃん　にゃん　にゃん
ないてばかりいる　こねこちゃん
いぬの　おまわりさん　こまってしまって
わん　わん　わん　わん
わん　わん　わん　わん

Romaji (Latin Alphabet)

maigo no maigo no koneko-chan
anata no ouchi wa doko desu ka
ouchi wo kiite mo wakaranai
namae wo kiite mo wakaranai
nyan nyan nyan nyan
nyan nyan nyan nyan
naite bakari iru koneko-chan
inu no omawarisan komatte shimatte
wan wan wan wan
wan wan wan wan

maigo no maigo no koneko-chan
kono ko no ouchi wa doko desu ka
karasu ni kiite mo wakaranai
suzume ni kiite mo wakaranai
nyan nyan nyan nyan
nyan nyan nyan nyan
naite bakari iru koneko-chan
inu no omawarisan komatte shimatte
wan wan wan wan
wan wan wan wan

English Interpretation (Simple Translation)

Lost, lost little kitten
Where is your home?
Even if I ask you, you don’t know
Even if I ask your name, you don’t know
Meow, meow, meow, meow
Meow, meow, meow, meow
You keep on crying, little kitten
The doggie policeman is troubled
Bow wow, bow wow
Bow wow, bow wow

Lost, lost little kitten
Where is this kitten’s home?
I asked the crow, but they didn’t know
I asked the sparrow, but they didn’t know
Meow, meow, meow, meow
Meow, meow, meow, meow
You keep on crying, little kitten
The doggie policeman is troubled
Bow wow, bow wow
Bow wow, bow wow

Why Children Love This Song

Inu no Omawarisan has everything kids love: animals, repetition, sound effects (nyan and wan), and a simple story with a big heart. It helps children explore emotions like worry and kindness while introducing everyday vocabulary in Japanese, such as:

• Maigo (lost child/kitten)

• Ouchi (home)

• Omawarisan (police officer)

• Nyan/Wan (onomatopoeia for meow/bark)

The gentle melody and clear emotional journey make it perfect for singing at home or in the classroom.

Learn with Songs Through Dinolingo

Dinolingo’s Japanese for Kids program brings songs like Inu no Omawarisan to life with animated videos, interactive games, and printable materials. Kids can listen, repeat, and sing along while watching the story unfold visually — helping them learn new words and sentence patterns naturally.

Ideal for children aged 2–14, Dinolingo’s language program is available on web, iOS, and Android, and includes a rich library of traditional and modern songs, vocabulary lessons, and cultural content.

Songs like Inu no Omawarisan are more than cute tunes, they’re gateways into empathy, imagination, and the Japanese language. Through music, children connect not just with words but with feelings, values, and stories they’ll remember for years.