1953 Kagome Rikishi 7 Set

Description: Kagome Gangu Kaisha (Kagome Toy Company) produced several Rikishi Series menko sets between 1944 and 1957, but none rivals the size and uniqueness of the 1953 Kagome Rikishi 7 Set. This set was printed to mirror the 1953 Aki Banzuke and I consider it the absolute pinnacle of the sumo boom menko issues. The 1953 Set was truly colossal for its day in terms of size, quantity and quality of rikishi. In fact, 7 of the modern day Yokozuna and 4 of the modern day Ozeki appear in this set at various stages in their career. Furthermore, every other rikishi depicted in this set made it to at least the Komusubi rank except for Narutoumi! The approximately 2.0 x 3.25 inch and 1/16 inch thick menko were the biggest size ever offered for individual sale. At 46 menko, it was also the largest set ever produced. One of the major design innovations that Kagome capitalized on was the superimposing of actual photos of rikishi’s heads onto a drawing of their kesho-mawashi. The ink colors used on the menko front were extremely bright and vivid and the backs sported a clean 3-column design that wasn’t cluttered. The artwork on the fronts is simple, yet representative of the actual kesho-mawashi. One interesting printing technique that wasn’t identified until recently is the color-reversal on ever menko produced. In short, two versions of each menko were printed where the red and green colors are swapped resulting in a “red” version and “green” version. The menko are on nice, thick paper stock with a gloss coat and were ideal menko because of their weight. This set has a rare card of the 40th Yokozuna Azumafuji, 42nd Yokozuna Kagamisato's shin-Yokozuna card, 43rd Yokozuna Yoshibayama's last known Ozeki card, 44th Yokozuna Tochinishiki's shin-Ozeki card, 45th Yokozuna Wakanohana's second known Komusubi card, 46th Yokozuna Asashio's shin-Sekiwake card and numerous others. Kagome really pulled off a zensho-yusho with this set!

Company: Kagome Availability: Common

Card Size: 2.0" X 4.0" Card Material: Thick, Paper Stock

# of Cards: 30+ Packaging: Sheet

Key Cards: Yokozuna Azumafuji, Komusubi Wakanohana, Ozeki Tochinishiki and Yoshibayama

Winner Stamp Description: None

Front Design: This set features the Rikishi in their Kesho-Mawashi. Referred to as the "human" set.

Back Design: Rikishi's shikona is vertical in the middle of the menko with the Gu-Choki-Pa at the top. Rikishi's rank is also along the top. Height/weight info is on the left and right. 7 digit Fighting Numbers are on the bottom.

Kagamisato
Banzuke Checklist			Numerical Checklist
Rank	Shikona	Fighting #	Rank	Shikona	Fighting #
Yokozuna	Azumafuji	2854000	Maegashira	Shimizugawa	9825421
Yokozuna	Chiyonoyama	1390520	Maegashira	Wakasegawa	9024510
Yokozuna	Kagamisato	4798310	Maegashira	Otachi	8452010
Ozeki	Tochinishiki	4785020	Maegashira	Wakabayama	8450759
Ozeki	Yoshibayama	1942001	Sekiwake	Matsunobori	8432450
Ozeki	Mitsuneyama	3842740	Maegashira	Dewanishiki	7904210
Sekiwake	Asashio	5894170	Komusubi	Wakanohana	7504320
Sekiwake	Matsunobori	8432450	Maegashira	Terunobori	7148920
Komusubi	Wakanohana	7504320	Maegashira	Kuninobori	7005000
Komusubi	Tokitsuyama	2532021	Maegashira	Kotonishiki	6849240
Maegashira	Dewanishiki	7904210	Maegashira	Narutoumi	6532410
Maegashira	Kitanonada	1420401	Maegashira	Nayaroiwa	6432150
Maegashira	Kotogahama	5200129	Maegashira	Shinobuyama	6428000
Maegashira	Kotonishiki	6849240	Sekiwake	Asashio	5894170
Maegashira	Narutoumi	6532410	Maegashira	Tamanoumi	5290120
Maegashira	Nayaroiwa	6432150	Maegashira	Kotogahama	5200129
Maegashira	Otachi	8452010	Yokozuna	Kagamisato	4798310
Maegashira	Shimizugawa	9825421	Ozeki	Tochinishiki	4785020
Maegashira	Shinobuyama	6428000	Ozeki	Mitsuneyama	3842740
Maegashira	Tamanoumi	5290120	Yokozuna	Azumafuji	2854000
Maegashira	Terunobori	7148920	Komusubi	Tokitsuyama	2532021
Maegashira	Wakabayama	8450759	Ozeki	Yoshibayama	1942001
Maegashira	Kuninobori	7005000	Maegashira	Kitanonada	1420401
Maegashira	Wakasegawa	9024510	Yokozuna	Chiyonoyama	1390520