1955 Sumo Menko

"The Golden Decade"

The 1950s are considered the Golden Decade in the 30 or so years of sumo's menko popularity.  The most sets were produced in this decade, over 100 in all.  Also, about a dozen companies were printing and distributing menko to local candy shops in hopes of enticing kids to buy their product.  In 1953 NHK started televising matches and a huge sumo boom was created.  At one time there were 4 channels televising the matches!  This also is reflected in the production of menko as most sets from the 1950s were printed from 1953 and after.  The early to mid 1950s was dominated by 3 relatively weak Yokozuna, Chiyonoyama, Yoshibayama, Kagamisato, and one rather strong Yokozuna: Tochinishiki.  There was also an young and rising start, Wakanohana who later became a powerful Yokozuna and all these stars can easily be found throughout all sets.  Menko also took on a new form in the 1950s.  No longer were menko used for just battle, but many children were collecting them and not destroying them in battle.  The later half of the 1950s saw a rise in production quality as well as a typically more aesthetically pleasing design.  With the increase in the number of basho, many menko companies couldn't keep up with the banzuke and printing coordination and thus hardly any menko printed after 1956/1957 have any rank information on them. 

BB551 - 1955 Hana Bromide Set

BB558 - 1955 Mitsuwa Uchu Trump Bromide 14 Set

G551 - 1955 YakyuSumo Game Set

H552 - 1955 Renga 8-9 Set

H553 - 1955 Renga 9 Set

K551 - 1955 Karuta Set

M551 - 1955 Asahi Gunbai 9-10 Set

M552 - 1955 Denki 8-9 Set

M553 - 1955 Kusuri 10 Set

M556 - 1955 Sanenchu 10-11-12 Set

M557 - 1955 Trump 6 Set

M558 - 1955 Mitsuwa Uchu Trump 14 Set

P551 - 1955 Prize Sheet Set

R551 - 1955 Kagome Rikishi 10 Set