Sugimori said shit in an interview but providing now proof other than some text bubbles on a fucking gamer news journalist site. Heck Sugimori isn't even the fucking creator of the pokemon entirely, he draws and refines their designs but he doesn't come up with EVERY idea anyways. Besides I know weebs LOOOVE bashing localization teams but do you really think that they didn't have the professionalism to just ASK WHAT THE CREATURE IS BEFORE TRANSLATING