She Has Amassed Hundreds of Pokemon Cards with Holes, and You Can't Stop Her.
Pokémon creators released collectors to the Pokémon TCG Diamond & Pearl set in the year 2007, showcasing the Bonsly card. In this card, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon appears by designer the talented Harada in a somewhat awkward situation. Here, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo is depicted knocked over and shedding tears. But don't misunderstand, though. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, Bonsly aims to influence the other player's mood with the goal of lowering their offensive power. Memorable card, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins is a firm believer. And she's got an album filled with 305 Bonsly cards as evidence.
The Entire Assortment and Its Highlights
However, that's not the full extent also. She obtained twenty reverse holographic versions of the Bonsly card, showing the tyke with shiny foil covering everything except the primary illustration. The prized possession, however, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it's far from a high-grade Charizard from the base set. But do you have a goofy, nearly pristine Bonsly illustration preserved in all its splendor? Probably not.
Origins of the Collection
She invested a large part of this year gathering each Bonsly card from 2007 available on the market. She initially learned about the out-of-print card earlier this year, during a discussion the notoriously odd cards among collectors with a worker at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was considered, just like Cubone by itself in an amusement park. But it was Crying Bonsly, or the seventeenth card, that grabbed Emily's focus.
Behind Bonsly's Look
The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, that are commonly placed in planters with holes at the bottom. These are meant to support healthy development, to the extent that enthusiasts advise one another to add holes in their containers when none are present. Bonsai can also be placed on low dishes without holes, called suiban, where the water stays may assist enthusiasts arrange their bonsai to look like nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, hence the hole.
Why Bonsly Stands Out
Even with this reasonable background, yet, The Pokémon Company seems almost overly focused regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products such as Bonsly plush toys make sure to include a hollow cavern below of this plant Pokémon. Regardless if the illustration of this particular Bonsly appears sad or content: It will display hole. The hole is a key element in Bonsly's appearance. This specific Bonsly card turned into an internet joke among fans because of that drainage hole, and also because of its status. For years before, Bonsly #71 remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly printed in a game where numerous creatures are typically depicted in dozens of different ways. Over a decade and a half, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you needed to accept for hole Bonsly.
Emily's Dedication
"When I discovered this card on the list of oddball cards, I realized I discovered the one for me," she explains via email, noting that she was surprised to have missed it until then. She'll be the first to state her love of Bonsly #71 serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The initial interest turned into a major fixation, as she acquired each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She adopted a practice of visiting her favorite shop regularly, and was dubbed to the employees as "Bonsly Girl". The shop started reserving all incoming copies of Bonsly #71 it received exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she notes, calculating that she's spent about $400 just on the binder alone.
The Financial Side
Nowadays, pristine the card may reach prices of nearly $15. Although that is expensive, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards usually go for starting at $4. That price increase corresponds to her starting point collecting seriously, although there are probably several factors at play. Although Bonsly #71 is well-known in the community, her online content about it have attracted a huge audience. As news of its existence expands further to new fans, it's possible that their market price may continue to shoot up. Regardless, enthusiasts say that trading card game values are climbing in 2025 overall.
Her Relentless Pursuit
Nothing can halt her, though.
"The amazing thing is that a few followers and enthusiasts from her channel have mailed copies of Bonsly to me to add to my collection, and they will remain them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are impressed and inspired by this project.
"For years, I wished to try this," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card
