1937 Rikishi Thick 5 Set

    Description:  This is one of about a dozen or so "human" sets produced in the 1930's.  This style of sets was common during this decade and fortunately leads to easy identification of the year each was produced.  These sets are different than the similar "human" ones produced in the mid 1950's in the fact that the faces of the rikishi are drawn in these instead of a photo superimposed over the body.  This set has a couple of good Yokozuna menko, Yokozuna Musahsiyama and Minanogawa.  This was also the last year that the great Futabayama was an Ozeki as he was promoted to Yokozuna for the 1938 Hatsu Basho.  These menko are similar to the 1937 Rikishi Thin 5 Set and were printed by the same company.  This set is very unique because it depicts the leader of the rebel group of rikishi, Tenryu, who disbanded from the Sumo Kyokai and started their own sumo association in Osaka.  This was known as the Shunjuen Incident.  Tenryu's menko in this set shows him as an Ozeki from the Osaka branch of sumo!  Interesting indeed!!!

    Company: Nishin                                                     Availability: Rare

    Card Size: 1.25" x 2.50"                                           Card Material:  Thin, paper stock 

     # of Cards in set: 6+                                                Packaging: Sheets

    Key Cards:  Any Yokozuna

    Winner Stamp Description: N/A 

    Front Design:  This set features a drawing of the Rikishi in their Kesho-Mawashi.

   Back Design:  Rikishi's shikona is in big bold kanji in the middle of the menko.  Weight is in a little oval box along the left and a war themed word is in an oval box along the right.  Rikishi's rank is right above the shikona.  A 5 digit Fighting Number is along the bottom with the company info under that.  Menko backs are printed with a blue-black ink.

Banzuke Checklist						Numerical Checklist
Rank	Shikona	Fighting #	Front	Back		Rank	Shikona	Fighting #
Yokozuna	Musashiyama	98050				Yokozuna	Musashiyama	98050
						Yokozuna	Minanogawa	92150
						Maegashira	Ryougoku	78720
						Maegashira	Banjaku	72380
						Ozeki-Osaka	Tenryu	65320
						Komusubi	Ooshio	63557
Yokozuna	Minanogawa	92150
Ozeki-Osaka	Tenryu	65320
Sekiwake
Komusubi	Ooshio	63557
Maegashira	Ryougoku	78720
Maegashira	Banjaku	72380