1956 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. 

B561 - 1956 Shiori Set

BB562 - 1956 Marukami Hoshi Bromide 6 Set

BB563 - 1956 Marusan Jyunishi Nagai Bromide 3-5-6 Set

BC561 - 1956 Kagome Uchu 10 Set

BC562 - 1956 Marukami Hoshi 6 Set

BC563 - 1956 Marusan Jyunishi Nagai 3-5-6 Set

H562 - 1956 Renga 10-11-13 Set

K561 - 1956 Karuta Set

M561 -1956 Dai Shikona 12-13 Set

M562 -1956 Gold Trump 9 Set

M563 - 1956 Kagome Caricature Trump 7-8 Set

M565 - 1956 Kaminari Sensou 8 Set

M568 - 1956 Maruta Trump 8-9 Set

M569 - 1956 Mitsuwa Trump 14 Set

M5610 - 1956 Sanenchu 9-10 Set

M5611 - 1956 Sanenchu Block 9 Set

M5612 - 1956 Sanenchu Block 10-12 Set

M5613 - 1956 Sanenchu Mini 11-13 Set

M5614 - 1956 Sanenchu Slant 10 Set

M5615 - 1956 Stripe Trump 9-10 Set

M5616 - 1956 Tsuriyane 7-8-9 Set

M5617 - 1956 Waku 6 Set

R561 -1956 Hanagata Rikishi 0 Set