1957 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.  

BB575 - 1957 Marusho Tawara Bromide 5 Set

BC571 - 1957 Basho 12 Set

BC572 - 1957 Jyunishi 6 Set

BC573 - 1957 Marukami Sensou 6 Set

BC575 - 1957 Marusho Tawara 5 Set

BC577 - 1957 Suna 7 Set

BC578 - 1957 Yamakatsu Dai Gunbai 6-7 Set

K571 - 1957 Yakyu/Sumo Karuta Set

M572 - 1957 Dohyo Iri 9-10 Set

M573 - 1957 Gunbai 9-10-11 Set

M574 - 1957 Maruta Nazo Nazo 7 Set

M575 - 1957 Sanenchu Straight 11-12-13 Set

M576 - 1957 Stripe 9-10-11 Set

M577 - 1957 Tsuki 10 Set

P571 - 1957 Marukami Prize Sheet

R571 - 1957 Kagome Rikishi 10-11 Set