Released in September 2020, the "Pachypodium Gracilius" figure became a talking point for both plant and figure enthusiasts. This was followed in December by black and white models, which sold out instantly. Furthermore, three new designs were released in January 2021. This project was initiated by the passionate vision of Ken Yokomachi, CEO of BOTANIZE. What is the story behind his lifelong love for plants and figures?

BOTANIZE, an exotic plant shop with physical stores in Tokyo's Shirokane and Daikanyama districts, specializes in unique plants. Among these, caudex plants have rapidly gained a devoted following in recent years. These succulents, primarily found in Madagascar, North and South America, and Africa, are characterized by their thick, swollen stems and roots that store water, enabling them to survive in arid environments.

The driving force behind the caudex plant craze is Ken Yokomachi, our guest today. Through his company, "anea design inc.," he manages BOTANIZE, operates the cafe "Anea Café," runs the bento selection shop "TOKYO BENTO STAND," and handles apparel planning, production, and sales.

BOTANIZE has actively collaborated with various brands and select shops. However, the "VCD Pachypodium Gracilius," released by Medicom Toy last fall, garnered significant attention. The figure's creation was driven by Mr. Yokomachi's strong desire to immortalize the popular caudex plant, Pachypodium Gracilius. With new figures soon to be released, we sat down with him for an in-depth conversation.

—What first drew you to caudex plants, cacti, and succulents?

YokomachiI was a rather obsessive collector as a child, filling my room with cacti. My father, an engineer, was also deeply passionate about his hobbies, like bonsai, which he even taught on weekends. I inherited that trait. He often took me to garden centers. Once I got a cactus, my collector's instinct kicked in, and I spent all my allowance on them, soon filling my room. By middle school, however, I became interested in other things, and my cactus obsession faded.

Years later, after starting my company and getting it on track, I stumbled upon them during a visit to an acquaintance's office: caudex plants. They had the spiky texture of cacti and perfectly round forms. They contained all the elements I loved. It instantly brought back the excitement of my childhood, and I began buying up every caudex plant I could find in Japan. It was incredibly fun. My office at the time was soon overflowing with them. I quickly moved to an office with a balcony. This was my reunion with my beloved caudex plants. Love is blind, indeed.

—It's been two years since the Daikanyama store opened, followed by the Shirokane branch. Have there been any shifts in collector preferences or trends?

YokomachiWhen people start collecting caudex plants, there's a predictable order in which they desire certain species. We can almost anticipate it. We know, for instance, 'This customer bought that last time, so they're probably looking for this next.'

Of course, trends also play a role. Previously, "imported specimens" from Madagascar were the mainstream. These plants, having grown for years in harsh natural environments, possessed a unique charm with their scars and weathered skin. Around the time the Shirokane store opened, "seedlings grown in Japan" began to gain popularity. The trend shifted from appreciating the established form of imported plants to the greater joy of cultivating seedlings.

—Were there any impacts from the pandemic?

YokomachiFortunately, there wasn't a significant impact. Our company also has a food and beverage division, operating four cafes, which were hit hard. Despite that, sales for the plant division, BOTANIZE, steadily increased.
With more people spending time at home, more individuals took up plant cultivation. We expanded the lineup on BOTANIZE's web shop and focused on enhancing the online shopping experience for our customers. In the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic, it was truly the caudex plants that saved me.

—In September 2020, Medicom Toy released a figure of the highly popular Pachypodium Gracilius from the caudex plant world. Could you tell us about this project?

YokomachiThe concept for this project dates back to when I first started BOTANIZE, about six years ago. As a collector, I've always loved Medicom Toy figures and have a large collection. The desire to "release a toy of my own design through Medicom Toy" had always been with me.

In any field, creating and offering what you yourself desire is paramount. If you don't want it, it's boring, and you certainly can't recommend it to others. I was influenced by and drawn to that aspect of Medicom Toy, which is why it had to be them. When I first met my contact at Medicom Toy, I passionately conveyed my vision. I imagine they initially thought, 'Huh? A plant figure? Why not just the real plant?' (laughs).

My passion must have resonated, and the project finally began. The first sample was incredibly realistic, just like a real Gracilius. I thought, 'Medicom Toy's craftsmanship is amazing!' But then I realized, 'This is just like the real plant,' so my request was simple: 'Make it 80% realistic!' The second sample was perfect. I could almost cry thinking about it now. It was magnificent! Medicom Toy consistently delivers perfection, even with such broad requests. Truly impressive.

For Gracilius collectors, the pursuit is for a "perfectly round body with short, uniform branches." The VCD Gracilius embodies the ultimate Gracilius that everyone aspires to. From my perspective, it's not ideal if it's mistaken for the real thing. I wanted to release the black and white versions from the start, but Medicom Toy suggested we begin with the normal color.
For those unfamiliar with caudex plants, seeing a black one suddenly might lead them to question if it's even a plant at all, thinking, 'What is this?' Exactly! I completely agreed. Medicom Toy's expertise extended to the order of release as well.

—What kind of response did you receive after the release?

YokomachiThe response was overwhelming. While I had some expectations, the positive reception far exceeded them. It particularly resonated with PLANT LOVERS in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea. Naturally, we also received a significant response from figure fans. After all, caudex plant fans are inherently collectors, sharing a commonality with figure fans. I believe this item has the potential to unite these two groups of collectors.

—In December 2020, the new "VCD Pachypodium Gracilius BLACK/WHITE" was released. The monochrome colors unique to figures were striking.

YokomachiI was so excited thinking about the release that I couldn't sleep! Since black and white are BOTANIZE's image colors, I imagine our fans were particularly eager for these. For those who own the first color, it's obvious they'd want to display all three together (laughs). Thankfully, they sold out within a minute of release. It's truly gratifying. While grateful, it also reinforced my belief that partnering with Medicom Toy was the right decision, and I'm eager to continue delivering excitement to everyone.

—Three new designs are scheduled for release in January 2021. Could you share your thoughts on each of them?

VCD Pachypodium Gracilius AUTUMN LEAVES
YokomachiGracilius plants go dormant in the fall and winter, much like bears hibernating. Their lush green leaves in spring and summer turn yellow and fall off as they enter dormancy from autumn to early winter. We've recreated this autumn foliage (AUTUMN LEAVES). While it might look like the normal color at first glance, I hope people will smile and say, 'Oh, it's got autumn leaves!'

Size | Approx. 210mm in height
Price | ¥12,800 (excluding tax)
Release Date | Scheduled for release in January 2020
Retailers | Medicom Toy direct stores and online stores,
Botanize direct stores & ONLINE STORE (botanize.jp)

BE@RBRICK BOTANIZE 400%
YokomachiThis features an all-over print of the plant species *Euphorbia obesa*. This is a plant I fondly remember searching for all over Japan when I first started. To see it become a BE@RBRICK is incredibly moving. Similar to the VCD, I also designed the packaging for this, so I hope people will pay attention to the packaging and display it together.

Size | Approx. 280mm in height
Price | ¥11,800 (excluding tax)
Release Date | Scheduled for release in January 2020
Retailers | Medicom Toy direct stores and online stores,
Botanize direct stores & ONLINE STORE (botanize.jp)
BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2021 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

BOTANIZE POT (BLACK/PINK/EMERALD GREEN)
YokomachiAs plant shop owners, we typically use white or black pots. But these vibrant pink and green colors, and the fact that the pots come in blister packs – it's just fantastic! This is something only Medicom Toy could achieve and get away with!

Size | Approx. 80mm in height each
Price | ¥3,800 each (excluding tax)
Release Date | Scheduled for release in January 2020
Retailers | Medicom Toy direct stores and online stores,
Botanize direct stores & ONLINE STORE (botanize.jp)

—Finally, could you tell us about any future plans or items you'd like to pursue with BOTANIZE, including potential collaborations with Medicom Toy?

YokomachiWe've received collaboration offers from various companies for "VCD Pachypodium Gracilius" and "BOTANIZE POT." Beyond that, we have several other projects in the pipeline. I'm particularly eager to launch our plant characters soon. There are hundreds, even thousands, of plant species. The possibilities are endless. I am immensely grateful to Medicom Toy for bringing the visions in my head to life. I would be happy to continue sharing the things I desire and love with many people.