1975 Nihon Sumo Kyokai Mini Card Set

    Description:  This set isn't actually a menko set, but rather a mini card set made by the Yamakatsu Company in 1975.  The sumo menko era died off in the mid-1960s and a few companies were trying to keep the sumo card industry alive in the 1970s, including the Yamakatsu Company.  Because of the diminishing popularity of sumo at the time these sets were quite unsuccessful, but you can still find some on the market today.  This set came in a large flat box and each card was packaged in their own blue envelope so that you couldn't see which card it was. There were winner cards randomly inserted (gold writing on back indicating it was a winner).  Winners would receive a card album.  It is difficult to find mint condition cards from this set as many times the color would transfer from one card to another if they were rubbing against each other.  Also, the blue envelope tended to transfer the blue ink to the cards as well.  Additionally, these cards had no border so if the cards weren't cut precisely, you would end up with part of the picture of the adjoining card on the card.  This set features rikishi from both Juryo and Makuuchi.  It has a couple of really rare 55th Yokozuna Kitanoumi cards, a really rare Takamiyama card and a extremely rare Sekiwake Mienoumi card before he became the 57th Yokozuna!  Yokozuna Kitanoumi is the current Nihon Sumo Kyokai Chairman and Takamiyama was the first foreigner to win a sumo basho.

    Company: Nihon Sumo Kyokai /Yamakatsu                      Availability: Scarce

    Card Size: 2" X 2.5"                                                         Card Material: Thick, Paper Stock

     # of Cards: 30+                                                               Packaging: Multicard Packs in boxes

   Key Cards: 55th Yokozuna Kitanoumi, Sekiwake Mienoumi, Komusubi Takamiyama

   Winner Stamp Description:  Gold writing on the back indicating a free card album

   Front Design:  Rikishi standing in their kesho mawashi against a solid color background with the Shikona written vertically on the left or right.

   Back Design:  Riskishi's statistics in the middle with the Shikona on the top and a unique kimarite on the bottom.  Card backs are white with blue writing.