In a recent interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri, Pokémon art director Ken Sugimori confirmed that planner Koji Nishino served as the model for the iconic Sleeping Pokémon, Snorlax. Nishino has worked on the series since the original Pokémon Red and Green for Game Boy. “(Nishino), with this (huge) appearance, was the model for the Snorlax Pokémon,” Sugimori was quoted as saying. “Though, he’s abnormally fussy about cute things.” In Japanese, Snorlax is called “Kabigon,” which, according to Pokémon urban legend, was Nishino’s nickname. The reason is that “kabi” (カビ）means “mold,” and apparently, Nishino would even eat food that had gone moldy.
Source: Kotaku East
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