She Has Amassed Numerous of Pokémon Drainage Hole Cards, and She's Unstoppable.
Pokémon creators introduced collectors to the trading card game DP expansion in the year 2007, featuring a Bonsly trading card. Within this depiction, Gen IV stone creature appears by designer the talented Harada in a, shall we say, compromising situation. In the image, this pre-evolution appears fallen and crying. But don't misunderstand, however. Like its ability the move Fake Tears, this Pokémon attempts to influence the other player's mood in the hopes of lowering their offensive power. Memorable card, no? Electroacoustic harpist Emily is a firm believer. She possesses a collection book filled with 305 Bonsly cards to show for it.
Her Complete Set and Its Highlights
However, that's not the full extent either. She obtained 20 reverse foil versions featuring Bonsly, portraying the tyke with shiny foil all over except the primary illustration. The most valuable item, yet, is the PSA 6-rated reverse holo Bonsly card. Admittedly, it isn't a mint-condition Charizard illustration. Yet, do you possess a goofy, nearly pristine card of Bonsly preserved forever immortalized? Probably not.
How It All Began
She invested much of 2025 accumulating each Bonsly card from 2007 she can possibly find. She initially learned regarding this discontinued card at the start of the year, while talking about the most infamous cards among collectors with a staff member at her favorite card shop. Omanyte in tears was a contender, along with the lonely Cubone in an amusement park. But it was Crying Bonsly, aka Bonsly #17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.
The Design and Inspiration
Bonsly is obviously influenced on bonsai trees, which are typically planted in pots featuring holes for drainage. They are designed to aid growth, so much so that growers advise one another to drill holes in their containers if they don't already have one. Additionally, bonsai may sit on shallow pots lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, and the collected moisture may assist growers style their trees to mimic natural landscapes. Bonsly is the former, which explains the hole.
Why Bonsly Stands Out
Even with this reasonable background, yet, The Pokémon Company seems almost overly focused regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merchandise such as Bonsly plush toys ensure they feature an empty space at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. Regardless if the illustration of this particular Bonsly is crying or content: It will display the hole. This hole represents an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. Card number 71 gained meme status in collector circles because of the famous hole, in addition to its status. Up until last year, the card was the only version of Bonsly card included in the series in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in multiple editions. For 16 years, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you had to settle with this specific design.
Emily's Dedication
"Upon noticing Bonsly in the list of these cursed cards, I felt I located the one for me," Hopkins shares via email, noting that she was surprised to have missed it until then. She'll be the first to inform you her love of Bonsly #71 serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The liking evolved into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a routine of visiting her favorite shop on a weekly basis, and was dubbed by workers as "Bonsly Girl". The shop started putting any new copies of Bonsly #71 that came in exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she says, approximating her total expenditure is about $400 for the collection book.
Rising Prices
These days, pristine the card might be valued at nearly $15. Although that is expensive, standard Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost starting at $4. That price increase corresponds to the time Emily began her collection in earnest, although there are probably various influences. Although this card is famous in the community, Hopkins's posts about it have attracted millions of views. With information about this card continues to spread to new fans, it is likely that their market price might increase even more. Regardless, enthusiasts note that card market costs are climbing this year across the board.
Unstoppable Determination
Emily remains undeterred, however.
"The amazing thing is certain fans and viewers from her channel have mailed their Bonsly cards to me for her album, and I am keeping these cards protected always," she declares. Far from being alarmed, viewers are amazed and encouraged by this project.
"For years, I wished to try this," one commenter says. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card
