This column is purely an announcement. Our "hobbyist succulent sharing shop," PUKUBOOK SUCCULENTS, is being relaunched and expanded as "the Succulent Encyclopedia's Succulent Shop"! To our long-time supporters, we hope you'll enjoy this refreshing change, and to newcomers, we aim to offer surprising new discoveries—packed with all my succulent passion.

What is PUKUBOOK SUCCULENTS?

PUKUBOOK SUCCULENTS is a little different from your average succulent shop.

The "Succulent Encyclopedia PUKUBOOK" is an online succulent encyclopedia managed as a personal hobby. I started this website to share with others the knowledge I've gathered and the allure of succulents I've learned over years of study. The foundation of the site is my own collection, my cultivation experiments, and a trove of photographs I've taken. Running the site, though, isn’t as simple as it sounds: bringing in new plants, purchasing equipment, travel and research expenses, plus server and domain fees—all together, the monthly costs can total tens of thousands of yen, and sometimes even more. Selling succulent seedlings via "PUKUBOOK SUCCULENTS" is one way to help fund these expenses. Every yen of sales goes straight back into making PUKUBOOK's content better and deeper.

So yes, there's a touch of business-mindedness here, but fundamentally, it's a "hobby shop" to sustain a "hobby encyclopedia." The lineup is truly based on my personal tastes. For example: never-before-seen new varieties that barely show up in web searches, unique new hybrids where I can explain exactly what's distinctive about them, and those classic names you often hear of but can hardly ever find. Plus, mature specimens flaunting their full beauty—types you hardly ever see at an ordinary nursery. I seek out all these plants precisely because they’re what I look for as an encyclopedia curator. It’s a lineup built from a user's, and maybe even a bit of a hobbyist’s, perspective.

Expanding, Just a Little

This summer, I made a major change to how I manage succulents at home. Previously, I looked after them in a small corner of my garden—but now, I’ve set up a dedicated "Succulent Care Room". If I wanted to boast, I could call it the "Global Succulent Research Center" or "International Succulent Logistics HQ" (I'll let your imagination decide how grand it really is!).

Thanks to this new setup, I’ve been able to expand both the variety and number of plants I can care for—and meet a wider range of needs. Of course, as it’s still a one-person operation, instant shipping, perfect specimens every time, or guaranteed restocks after sold-outs just aren’t possible. It’s hardly a true "logistics center," but I take pride in running it—and do my best to deliver with confidence.

Site Redesign: Leveled Up!

I’ve put special attention into the site’s design, too. After all, I invested in the most expensive and feature-rich theme BASE has ever offered. It’s packed with every function you could want, and since it supports trendy "dark mode," visitors using dark mode on their smartphones or PCs will see PUKUBOOK in a whole new light.

But don’t get me wrong—I didn’t just choose the fanciest, trendiest theme out there. My top priority was "a layout that makes it easy to browse and choose among many different succulents". Of course, it also needed every essential feature. After considering all the options, only this top-tier theme fit those requirements. Turns out, it’s not fancy just for the sake of it—it’s actually worth the price.

Of course, this was a major investment as a "production expense," but what matters more to me is giving everyone a better, more enjoyable experience—not just cutting costs. That’s always at the front of my mind.

A Few Words to You

At the core, this is a shop run with one person’s passion and hobby. So, while it may never compete with big corporations in scale or speed, I take pride and responsibility in sharing not just the plants, but also their stories, backgrounds, and everything I've learned through day-to-day research and experience.

Some new varieties haven't even had their cultivation methods figured out yet. Discovering and experiencing these for the first time is part of what I enjoy most. Succulents are endlessly fascinating, with their ever-changing forms, colors, and growth, capturing the hearts of so many. Through our shop, I hope to share that fascination with as many people as possible, and enjoy this journey together with you. Whether you're trying succulents for the first time or have been growing them for years, PUKUBOOK SUCCULENTS will always be a place for sharing new discoveries and memorable moments.

Finally, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who’s supported and cheered us on. I'll continue treasuring each plant, and every connection with you, as PUKUBOOK SUCCULENTS grows with every passing day. Please continue to support us warmly in the future, too!