What are Menko?

What is/are menko?  Actually, menko means two things.  The first is the Japanese game in which children play with paper or cardboard "menko" and is explained in the Menko Rules section of this website.  The other meaning, in which this website focuses on, is the actual card itself that is used in this game.  So menko means refers to the game and the card.  Menko cards are a piece of cardboard or heavy paper with a picture printed on one side.  Menko were produced in all shapes, sizes and with various subjects such as movie stars, famous samurai, cartoons, war heroes, baseball players and sumo wrestlers.  The 1950's and early 1960's were the golden era of sumo menko.  Again, this website focuses on sumo menko, but much of the information on this website applies to any menko of this era.  Below are some examples of different types of menko: