31 May 2025

Review: 10348 Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree from LEGO® Botanicals

Posted by Ben Davies

Four years after the LEGO® Botanical Collection debuted with the launch of 10281 Bonsai Tree, The LEGO Group returns to the tree nursery from midnight tonight (Saturday 1 June 2025) with the release of 10348 Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree.

a variety of lego elements neatly arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner

Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.

10348 Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree

  • Release date: 1 June 2025
  • Pieces: 474
Price: 

Other countries click here

Lego Botanicals 10348 - reveal

 

New moulds

3 x 3 Palm Leaf (part 7264)

two views of a red lego palm three leaf element

The set includes 25 of an interesting new foliage piece.

the three leaf palm leaf compared to the larger palm leaf

The 3 x 3 Palm Leaf (7264) has been designed as a smaller companion to the 6 x 5 Palm Leaf (10884) mould that debuted in 1999, before receiving a minor mould update in 2012 (42949). 

The part feels wonderfully eclectic as a result, utilizing debossed detail to represent the midribs of the leaves.

image shows size of palm tree next to lego bricks and plates

Placed diagonally, the element measures 3 x 3 modules within the horizontal LEGO grid, and a just over 1 plate high due to the leaf tips descending below the stud.

While the element appears here in red (6533572), a bright green (6549013) version will launch on the same day in the June 2025 wave of LEGO® Friends. 


1 x 1 Tube with 45 Degree Elbow (2 x 2 2/3 x 1) and Axle Holes (7324)

two tan lego macaroni elements

The LEGO Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree includes 4 copies of a new member of the "macaroni" part family.

comparison of three different sized curved cylindrical lego elements

The design reads as a hybrid of the 2 x 2 Tube with 45º Elbow (5489) above left and 1 x 1 Tube with 90 º Elbow (25214) on the right, borrowing the angles of the former and diameter of the latter. It also matches one end of the Tail / Neck / Branch with Pin Holes (5717).

image comparing two curved lego macaroni elements in system

As a result of the geometric similarities this new tube shares with the lengthened "maxaroni" design, both elements fit neatly within the LEGO® Technic System, so long as you account for a half-module offset.

two comparison images of two of the macaroni elements making a 90 degree angle

Due to the reduced diameter of the tube, placing two tubes end-to-end will result in a half-a-module horizontal offset, giving the combined elements a 4.5 module radius.

Recoloured parts

A total of 10 recoloured elements appear within the set, including 3 new colours of the aforementioned 6 x 5 Palm Leaf.

ten recoloured LEGO elements
  • 8x Plant Leaves 6 x 5 Palm Leaf with Clip in Orange/ Bright Orange (6541444 | 10884, 42949)
  • 16x Plant Leaves 6 x 5 Palm Leaf with Clip in Reddish Orange (6541443 | 10884, 42949) 
  • 21x Plant leaves 6 x 5 Palm Lead with Clip in Red/ Bright Red (6541442 | 10884, 42949) 
  • 4x Brick Round 1 x 1 Tube with 90 Degree Elbow (2 x 2 x 1) and Axle Holes in Tan/ Brick Yellow (6541476 | 25214) 
  • 2x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Triple with 60 Degree Angled Axle in Tan/ Brick Yellow (6536088 | 7329) 
  • 2x Animal Horn with 45 Degree Elbow and Axle Holes in Tan/ Brick Yellow (6541450 | 2142) 
  • 20x Plate 2 x 2 Corner in Dark Green/ Earth Green (6541446 | 2420) 
  • 4x Bracket 1 x 1 - 1 x 2 Inverted in Dark Green/ Earth Green (6541447 | 73825) 
  • 8x Brick Round 2 x 2 x 2/3 Quarter Dome in Lime/ Bright Yellowish Green (6541445 | 5852) 
  • 10x Hair Small Tuft in Olive Green (6541489 | 68212)

Rare parts

Several elements in the set have appeared in fewer than 5 sets.
eight coloured LEGO elements
  • 2x Brick Round 2 x 2 Tube with 45 Degree Elbow and Axle Holes (Long) in Tan/ Brick Yellow (6473695 | 5489) (2nd appearance)
  • 7x Brick Round 1 x 1 x 1 1/3 Quarter Dome in Tan/ Brick Yellow (6486875 | 1871) (3rd appearance) 
  • 10x Plate Special 1 x 1 with Handle on 2 Ends in Tan/ Brick Yellow (6533760 | 78257) (3rd appearance) 
  • 2x Brick Round 2 x 2 x 2/3 Quarter Dome in Tan/ Brick Yellow (6525416 | 5852) (3rd appearance) 
  • 6x Plate Special 1 x 2 Rounded with 2 Open Studs in Bright Green (6536987 | 35480) (3rd appearance) 
  • 2x Brick Special 1 x 4 with 4 Studs on One Side in Olive Green (6411584 | 30414) (4th appearance) 
  • 12x Brick Arch 1 x 3 x 1 2/3 Curved in Dark Green/ Earth Green (6540221 | 5843) (2nd appearance) 
  • 8x Brick Curved 1 x 2 x 1 with Curved Top in Dark Tan/ Sand Yellow (6526747 | 5841) (3rd appearance)

Building experience

construction of the LEGO base of the bonsai

The set is split across 6 bags. The first of these is devoted to construction of the pot that houses the bonsai. Arched bricks are mounted sideways to give the container rounded corners.


partially build LEGO bonsai showing the internal SNOT work for the trunk

Next, the trunk of the bonsai and the patch of moss that it resides on are assembled. It is at this point that the first branch of leaves is added, using Mixel joints and a rotor plate (51138) to distribute the foliage in a natural-looking manner.

partially built LEGO bonsai tree with trunk built and leaves to be added

After this, the trunk is completed by mounting an assembly of plates and curved slopes to the core of the trunk that was built previously. A harbinger of things to come, a second branch with leaves is also added.

view of the completed lego Japanese Red Maple Bonsai tree model

The remaining three bags are each used to construct an additional set of branches and leaves. While the colors of the leaves do change based on height, the identical construction of the fans of leaves does become rather repetitive by the end.


Completed model

Despite the repetition found throughout the building process, the completed model is quite possibly my favorite to emerge from the LEGO Botanicals theme. The assembled set strikes a perfect balance between the real-world tree that inspired it and playful exaggeration that one would hope for in a LEGO set.
a further view of the completed lego Japanese Red Maple Bonsai tree

Rather than attempting to carefully capture every branch and leaf of the tree with maximum detail, the model strategically opts to capture the features that make the subject recognizable. It is an approach I would love to see emulated in future additions to the LEGO Botanticals line, especially if we are to receive further bonsai sets.

In recommending this set, my only hesitancy is the price. While an incredible model, the retail prices of US$59.99/ £54.99/ 59.99€/ AU$99.99 feel slightly above what I would expect for a set containing just under 500 parts, especially considering the very reasonable value of other sets in the LEGO Botanicals collection. If found on sale or coupled with a promotion, however, I have few qualms about recommending this set.

The Japanese Maple Bonsai on LEGO.com

Lego Botanicals 10348 - reveal

 

READ MORE: Review of the 2021 original 10281 Bonsai Tree, which is still available

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3 comments:

  1. Andrew Barnick31 May 2025, 13:25:00

    Nice review!

    The new 3x3 leaf piece may be used to complement the 6x5 palm leaf here, but I think a closer comparison is the old 1x1 round brick with bamboo leaves. This is a great replacement to that—the old "branches" of that piece were frustratingly fragile, with the potential to bend out of shape or even break. This piece mounts the leaves directly to the 1x1 center, making for a more sturdy design, and the replacement of the 1x1 round brick with a 1x1 round plate means that it can be used in applications like this set where you don't want the unnecessary added bulk.

    The new macaroni piece is also great. Sometimes you want the thin-ness of the 1x1 macaroni tube but without the sharp curve that part creates. This part will be great for all sorts of applications, from trees like this to brick built creatures to geometric or mechanical applications.

    The set as a whole looks gorgeous. The mossy base is attractive and more secure than the previous bonsai which used 1x1 tiles arranged loosely as "pebbles". I love the detail of the tangled roots meeting the ground, as well.

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    Replies
    1. Skye Barnick31 May 2025, 17:52:00

      Yeah, the new macaroni also seems very useful in places where the 135-degree dinosaur/dragon tail segment pieces would be too long, but you still want a similar angle! I've definitely encountered places a part like this could come in handy when trying to build Legend of Zelda MOCs to complement the Great Deku Tree set. Besides the tan ones in this set, we've also seen bright pink and medium lavender ones in 43257 Angel from the upcoming wave of Disney sets, and hopefully it will come in many more colors in the future!

      The recolors of the 2x2 90-degree macaroni and the textured dragon horn/tail piece should also definitely be very useful for both plant and creature builds! It's great to see how this family of tube-like parts has grown over time and how well these parts work in tandem with one another.

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  2. Andrew Barnick31 May 2025, 15:01:00

    By the way, it's interesting that the 3x3 macaroni introduced in last year's Dreamzzz sets hasn't appeared in anything else this year. I hope that's not a sign that it's a short-lived part... it seemed like a fun part with some great potential.

    ReplyDelete

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