In Pokémon, Meowth is easily recognized by the gold coin placed in the center of its forehead, a reference to a traditional Japanese figurine. The species of cream-colored cat Pokémon was introduced in the original Pocket Monsters: Red and Green, released in Japan before the series came to North America. One particular Meowth is featured prominently as a member of Pokémon's antagonistic Team Rocket in the anime, and is the primary source for the Pokémon's characterization. Coin-adorned Meowth is heavily inspired by the Japanese figurines known as maneki-neko, meaning “beckoning cat.”

Maneki-neko can be found in the entrances of businesses across Japan and serve as good luck charms. They are traditionally small, cream-colored or calico cat statues, made out of ceramic or plastic, with one paw raised in a beckoning gesture. Maneki-neko are thought to bring good fortune, and some of the Meowth sprites in older Pokémon games are positioned sitting up with one or both paws raised, like a maneki-neko. Many maneki-neko either hold or wear an Edo-era koban coin as a decoration, and the coin worn in the center of Meowth's forehead resembles one.

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The move Pay Day, originally exclusive to the Meowth line, awards the player extra money after a battle. Meowth’s regional variants following Pokémon's first generation, and Galarian evolution Perrserker, keep the Koban coin. Meowth’s original evolution, Persian, swaps the coin out for a small gem, continuing the theme of visual wealth. As Twitter user AshandSerena points out, Meowth’s Gigantamax form from Pokémon Sword and Shield replaces the koban coin with an ōban coin, a larger gold coin from the same era worth ten koban. The Kanji on Gigantamax Meowth’s coin appears to read, “large."

Origins Of Meowth's Coin-Wearing Inspiration, The Maneki-Neko

There are many possible origins for Meowth's inspiration, the maneki-neko figurines.

The origins of the maneki-neko are uncertain. One theory states they are related to a Chinese proverb that states that if a cat washes its face, it will rain. One folktale tells of a shopkeeper taking in a starving cat and the cat rewarding its savior by sitting in front of the store and beckoning customers. Another legend involves a samurai hiding from a storm beneath a large tree, where they see a cat beckoning him toward a temple. Historical samurai also inspired Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro. When the hidden samurai steps away from the tree in the maneki-neko tale, a lightning bolt strikes the tree, destroying it. Grateful, the samurai becomes a patron of the temple and builds a statue commemorating the cat.

Meowth may also be inspired by a yōkai called the bakeneko, or "changed cat." Meowth’s Japanese Pokédex entry calls it the bakeneko Pokémon. Folk legends of bakeneko include cats whose tails split in two, lick lamp oil, speak human words, cast curses, and transform into humans. These tales likely inspired Team Rocket’s Meowth in the Pokémon anime, who is renowned for being able to talk.

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Source: AshandSerena/Twitter