K561

1956 Karuta Set

    Description:  This is a karuta set and not a menko set, but I thought I'd include it on this site since it is from the era.  Karuta is a popular game in Japan and these cards are from an alphabet karuta set; hence the Japanese hiragana on the front of the cards.  The set that I have found isn't quite complete but has almost all the popular rikishi of the era as well as corresponding reader cards.

    Company: Unknown                                           Availability: Rikishi cards: Scarce, Reader cards: Rare

    Card Size: 2.5" X 3.0"                                       Card Material: Thin, Paper stock

     # of Cards: 45 rikishi cards, 45 Reader Cards       Packaging: Sheets

   Winner Stamp Description:  N/A

   Front Design:  A photo of the rikishi standing in their kesho-mawashi.  Several menko have other sumo scenes and will be indicated below.  Background is a solid pastel color and the corresponding Hiragana character is in the upper right or left on each card.  The character is printed in white and is in a blue or red circle.

   Back Design:  Backs are blank.