Overview
スナネコのうた (Sand Cat Song) is an original maimai track created as a commissioned promotion for the Nasu Animal Kingdom (那須どうぶつ王国) wildlife park in Tochigi Prefecture. The song was produced by the unit ぷにぷに電機 (punipunidenki), with composition and arrangement by Nobuaki Tanaka, lyrics by Shogo Tominaga, and a promotional music video directed by Tominaga under his LQVE banner.
True to its title, the song celebrates the sand cat (Felis margarita), a small wild felid native to desert environments. The lyrics weave together biological traits, heat-resistant paw pads covered in thick fur, a characteristically triangular face silhouette, and nocturnal stalking behavior, with a buoyant, chant-like refrain that echoes the sand cat's popular nickname, "angel of the desert" (砂漠の天使). Beneath the playful surface, the track carries a conservation-minded message, urging listeners not to mistake wildness for domesticity: sand cats are notoriously skittish and unsuited to captivity, and the song gently warns against the pet trade's impact on wild populations.
Added to maimai DX during the PRiSM PLUS update on April 1, 2025, the song spans a gentle arc from a Level 2 Basic chart through to a demanding Level 13+ Master. The Master chart, designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko), is defined by its unusually dense Touch-note construction, 118 Touch notes out of 566 total, paired with 76 Break notes, giving it a bouncy, erratic rhythm that mirrors the sand cat's own unpredictable movements. The Expert chart, designed by サファ太 (Safata), offers a more measured challenge at Level 9+ (constant 9.6). Originally rated Level 13 at launch, the Master chart was upgraded to 13+ starting from the CiRCLE PLUS update, reflecting its true difficulty relative to the contemporary chart pool.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
2(2)
117 notesDesigner: -|Tap 98Hold 2Slide 4Touch 8Break 5
ADVANCED
6(6)
192 notesDesigner: -|Tap 159Hold 12Slide 4Touch 13Break 4
EXPERT
9+(9.6)
261 notesDesigner: サファ太|Tap 176Hold 38Slide 16Touch 17Break 14
MASTER
13+(13.7)
566 notesDesigner: ぴちネコ|Tap 280Hold 34Slide 58Touch 118Break 76
Trivia
- スナネコのうた was commissioned specifically for the Nasu Animal Kingdom (那須どうぶつ王国) wildlife park in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, as an original promotional song. It shares a thematic connection with another maimai track, マヌルネコのうた (Pallas's Cat Song), also from the same park.
- The composition and arrangement were handled by Nobuaki Tanaka, while Shogo Tominaga wrote the lyrics and directed the official music video under his LQVE creative banner.
- The song's lyrics include the line 'We just want the 生肉' (nama niku, raw meat), which also appears as an in-game collection title. The title was later upgraded from a bronze to a silver称号 in the CiRCLE PLUS update.
- The Master chart's difficulty constant was raised from 13 to 13+ beginning with the CiRCLE PLUS version, acknowledging its true challenge relative to other charts at the time.
- The Japanese wiki includes a conservation note alongside the song description: sand cats are extremely cautious animals that do not easily acclimate to humans and are unsuitable as pets. It warns that rising pet demand could lead to over-capture of wild individuals, and directs interested viewers to visit Nasu Animal Kingdom to observe them in person.
- An in-game collection title referencing the Nasu Animal Kingdom ('驚きと感動を提供する那須どうぶつ王国') requires playing both マヌルネコのうた and スナネコのうた within a single credit, an homage to the park's pair of wild cat species (Pallas's cat and sand cat).
- The song runs 1 minute and 50 seconds in length, a compact duration typical of maimai original tracks.
- スナネコのうた was added to the Japanese version of maimai DX PRiSM PLUS on April 1, 2025. The Asian version followed on September 5, 2025.
FAQ
- Who composed スナネコのうた (Sand Cat Song) for maimai?
- The composition and arrangement were handled by Nobuaki Tanaka, with lyrics written by Shogo Tominaga. The vocals and performance are by the unit ぷにぷに電機 (punipunidenki).
- When was スナネコのうた added to maimai?
- The song was added in the maimai DX PRiSM PLUS update on April 1, 2025 in Japan. The Asian version received it later on September 5, 2025.
- What difficulty level is the Master chart of スナネコのうた?
- The Master chart is rated Level 13+ with a difficulty constant of 13.7 (as of the CiRCLE PLUS update). It was originally Level 13 at launch before being upgraded.
- Who designed the charts for スナネコのうた?
- The Expert chart (Level 9+) was designed by サファ太 (Safata), and the Master chart (Level 13+) was designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko).
- Is スナネコのうた a collaboration with a zoo or wildlife park?
- Yes, the song was commissioned as an original promotional track for the Nasu Animal Kingdom (那須どうぶつ王国) wildlife park in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It belongs to a pair of wild-cat-themed songs alongside マヌルネコのうた (Pallas's Cat Song).
- What does スナネコ mean and what is the song about?
- スナネコ (suna neko) literally means 'sand cat' in Japanese. The song celebrates the sand cat (Felis margarita), describing its desert-adapted traits, heat-resistant paw pads, triangular face, nocturnal hunting, while also conveying a conservation message about keeping wild animals in the wild.
- Does スナネコのうた have any special in-game unlock conditions or collection titles?
- Two collection titles are tied to the song: 'We just want the 生肉' (unlocked by achieving FULL SYNC DX) and '驚きと感動を提供する那須どうぶつ王国' (unlocked by playing both マヌルネコのうた and スナネコのうた in a single credit).
