R374

1937 Rikishi Thin 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 Musashiyama 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 Thick 5 Set.  It appears they were printed by the same company.  Menko came in perforated sheets and children had to "pop" them out after they bought them. 

    Company: Nishin Gangu?                                          Availability: Rare

    Card Size: 1.0" x 2.25"                                             Card Material:  Thin, paper stock 

     # of Cards in set: 20+                                                Packaging: Sheets

    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.  Menko backs are printed with a blue-black ink.