She Has Amassed Hundreds of Pokemon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.
Pokémon creators released collectors to the Pokémon TCG Diamond & Pearl edition back in 2007, showcasing a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is shown by designer Harada-san in an unusual situation. In the image, this pre-evolution is depicted fallen and weeping. But don't misunderstand, yet. Like its ability Fake Tears suggests, this Pokémon attempts to influence their opponent's emotions with the goal of lowering their damage output. Iconic piece, isn't it? Musician and harpist Emily certainly thinks so. And she's got a binder with 305 cards of Bonsly to prove it.
The Full Collection and Its Highlights
But that isn't the full extent either. She obtained a score of reverse holographic editions of this particular card, which depicts the little guy with shiny foil all over except the primary illustration. The most valuable item, yet, proves to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly card. Certainly, it's not a high-grade Charizard illustration. However, can you claim a quirky, almost perfect card of Bonsly maintained in all its splendor? I didn't think so.
The Start of the Obsession
Hopkins has spent a large part of this year accumulating every 2007 Bonsly card that she could locate. She discovered of this rare card earlier this year, while debating the most infamous cards in the Pokémon TCG with a worker at her favorite card shop. Omanyte in tears was considered, along with the lonely Cubone in an amusement park. But it was Bonsly crying, or the seventeenth card, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.
Behind Bonsly's Look
The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, that are commonly placed in containers featuring holes for drainage. These holes are intended to aid growth, to the extent that growers suggest to peers to add holes on the bottom if holes are missing. Bonsai can also be placed on shallow pots hole-free, referred to as suiban, where the water stays can help growers style their trees to look like outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, hence the hole.
Why Bonsly Stands Out
Despite this logical explanation, yet, Pokémon's creators seems almost a little too concerned regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merchandise such as Bonsly plush toys make sure to include a hollow cavern below of Bonsly. Regardless if the depiction of Bonsly in question appears sad or content: It will display the hole. This hole represents a key element in Bonsly's appearance. Bonsly #71 gained meme status in collector circles because of the famous hole, as well as its rarity. Until recently, the card remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly printed in a game in which most Pokémon are commonly shown in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, should you desire a card of Bonsly, you had to settle with this specific design.
A Growing Obsession
"When I discovered Bonsly in the list of infamous cards, I felt I located my favorite one," Hopkins shares in a message, mentioning how she felt astonished to have missed it until then. She'll be the first to inform you her love of this particular card serves no practical purpose, but she didn't care. The liking became a full-blown obsession, as she acquired every Bonsly #71 card that she could get her hands on. She soon developed a habit of stopping by the nearby card store on a weekly basis, and was dubbed to the employees as the Bonsly collector. They started putting any new this specific card that came in aside just for Hopkins. Typically, these cards cost between $1 and $3, she notes, approximating she has invested somewhere around $400 for the collection book.
Market Trends and Value
Nowadays, excellent this Bonsly card can cost up to nearly $15. While that is a premium price, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards usually go for four dollars or more. This rise in cost more or less coincides with her starting point building her set, though there are likely several factors at play. While it's true that Bonsly #71 is well-known in the community, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have received a huge audience. As awareness regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread among more people, it's possible that their market price might increase even more. If nothing else, enthusiasts note that card market costs are skyrocketing in 2025 overall.
No Signs of Stopping
Emily remains undeterred, yet.
"What's incredible is a few followers and viewers on social media have sent copies of Bonsly to Emily to add to my collection, and she is preserving these cards protected always," Emily states. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are impressed and inspired by her Bonsly binder.
"For years, I wished to try this," an observer mentions. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card
