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: Unknown                                                 Availability: Rare

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

     # of Cards in set: 15+                                                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.  Menko backs are printed with a blue-black ink.

Banzuke Checklist						Numerical Checklist
Rank	Shikona	Fighting #	Front	Back		Rank	Shikona	Fighting #
Yokozuna	Musashiyama	45000				Maegashira	Shinkai	96000
						Maegashira	Kyushuzan	95000
						Maegashira	Ayagawa	86000
						Maegashira	Takanobori	84000
						Maegashira	Ooshio	76000
						Maegashira	Ryogoku	75500
						Ozeki	Kagamiiwa	74000
Yokozuna	Minanogawa	36000				Maegashira	Banshinzan	66000
Ozeki	Kagamiiwa	74000				Maegashira	Kaikozan	64000
						Maegashira	Hatasegawa	56000
						Maegashira	Ayawaka	54000
						Maegashira	Katsuragawa	46000
						Yokozuna	Musashiyama	45000
						Maegashira	Noshirogata	44000
						Yokozuna	Minanogawa	36000
Ozeki	Futabayama	25000				Maegashira	Tomoegata	34000
Ozeki	Shimizugawa	26000				Ozeki	Shimizugawa	26000
						Ozeki	Futabayama	25000
						Maegashira	Banjaku	24000
						Maegashira	Kasagiyama	4550
Sekiwake
Komusubi
Maegashira	Takanobori	84000
Maegashira	Shinkai	96000
Maegashira	Ryogoku	75500
Maegashira	Ooshio	76000
Maegashira	Kasagiyama	4550
Maegashira	Hatasegawa	56000
Maegashira	Banshinzan	66000
Maegashira	Noshirogata	44000
Maegashira	Katsuragawa	46000
Maegashira	Ayagawa	86000
Maegashira	Banjaku	24000
Maegashira	Ayawaka	54000
Maegashira	Kyushuzan	95000
Maegashira	Tomoegata	34000
Maegashira	Kaikozan	64000