1958 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. 

BB582 - 1958 Doyusha Kiku Bromide 7 Set

BB588 - 1958 Marukami Kimarite Bromide 6 Set

BC581 - 1958 Dai Gunbai 6 Set

BC582 - 1958 Doyusha Kiku 7 Set

BC583 - 1958 Hadaiya Gunbai 6 Set

BC584 - 1958 Hadaiya Maru 6 Set

BC585 - 1958 Hata 6 Set

BC586 - 1958 Heya 6 Set

BC587 - 1958 Kimarite 6 Set

BC588 - 1958 Marukami Kimarite 6 Set

BC589 - 1958 Maruta Nibusa 6-7 Set

M581 - 1958 Dash 7-8 Set

M582 - 1958 Hokyoku 10 Set

M583 - 1958 Mitsuwa Trump 20 Set

M584 - 1958 Sanenchu Thin 11-12 Set

Z581 - 1958 Zashi 0 Set

Z582 - 1958 Yakyu Shonen Set