She's Collected Hundreds of Pokemon Cards with Holes, and You Can't Stop Her.
Pokémon creators introduced collectors to the trading card game DP set during 2007, featuring the Bonsly illustration. On this artwork, the fourth generation rock-type is portrayed by designer Midori Harada in a somewhat awkward pose. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo can be seen knocked over and weeping. But don't misunderstand, yet. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, the little creature aims to manipulate their opponent's emotions with the goal of reducing their damage output. Memorable card, right? Musician and harpist Emily certainly thinks so. And she's got a binder with 305 cards of Bonsly to prove it.
Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds
That's not the full extent as well. She's got twenty holo reverse editions of the Bonsly card, showing the little guy in reflective foil everywhere but the main image. The most valuable item, however, proves to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly card. Certainly, it's far from a mint-condition original Charizard card. But do you have an amusing, close to mint Bonsly illustration preserved in all its splendor? Probably not.
How It All Began
She invested much of 2025 accumulating every 2007 Bonsly card that she could locate. She initially learned of this rare card earlier this year, during a discussion the most cursed cards in the compendium with a worker in a nearby store. Omanyte in tears was considered, along with the lonely Cubone in an amusement park. But it was Crying Bonsly, also known as the seventeenth card, that caught her interest.
The Concept of Bonsly
The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, which are often grown in pots that have drainage holes. They are designed to help the plant grow, so much so that fans advise one another to drill holes in their containers if they don't already have one. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, where the water stays may assist caretakers decorate their plants to mimic nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, which explains the hole.
The Infamous Hole Card
Even with this reasonable background, yet, The company looks a bit excessively attentive with Bonsly's hole. Also, products including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature an empty space at the bottom of Bonsly. Regardless if the depiction of this particular Bonsly appears sad or content: It's going to show hole. The hole is an intrinsic part of Bonsly's design. Bonsly #71 turned into an internet joke among fans thanks to that drainage hole, and also because of its status. For years before, Bonsly #71 was the only version of Bonsly available printed in a game where many of its monsters are commonly shown in dozens of different ways. For sixteen years, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you needed to accept with this specific design.
Emily's Dedication
"When I saw Bonsly in the list of oddball cards, I felt I had found the one for me," Hopkins shares via email, noting that she was surprised that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to tell you her passion for the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, but it didn't matter. The initial interest turned into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought all copies of this card she could possibly find. She soon developed a routine of going to her local card shop every week, and earned the nickname by workers as "Bonsly Girl". The store began putting any new copies of Bonsly #71 that came in only for her. Most of these cards go for a few dollars, she mentions, approximating her total expenditure is about $400 just on the binder alone.
Rising Prices
These days, mint-condition the card can cost up to $14.99. Although that is expensive, run-of-the-mill versions usually go for four dollars or more. This rise in cost more or less coincides with the time Emily began building her set, although there are probably multiple reasons. While it's true that Bonsly #71 is well-known among collectors, Emily's social media updates regarding the card have attracted countless views. As awareness of its existence keeps growing among more people, there's a chance the price of Bonsly #71 cards might increase even more. Regardless, collectors mention how TCG prices are climbing currently in general.
No Signs of Stopping
Emily remains undeterred, however.
"The amazing thing is a few followers and fans on social media have mailed their own Bonsly cards to Emily to expand the set, and I am keeping these Bonsly safe forever," Emily states. Far from being alarmed, the audience feel admiration and motivation by her collection.
"I've long desired to attempt something similar," a viewer notes. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card
