M558

1955 Mitsuwa Uchu Trump 14 Set

M558-1, Type 1: Brown Ink on Back

M558-2, Type 2: Red-Brown Ink on Back

M558-3, Type 3: Green Ink on Back

    Description:  This is another typical set of the mid 1950's.  The card stock is very thick and production quality is lower than other sets that came later on in the 1950's.  Menko backs have a space theme to them and most menko from this set are hard to find in decent condition since they came in sheets and had to be cut apart by the childrem who bought them.  This set seems to have been fairly common as most menko also have a fair amount of game use on them.  I find it funny that the Fighting Digits are so long in this set....14 digits in fact.  It would have been a pain to play a game of menko using the Fighting Number rules with these cards.  Most menko came with two or even three variations of backs. 

    Company: Mitsuwa                                             Availability: Common

    Card Size: 1.25" X 2.75"                                      Card Material: Thick, Paper stock

     # of Cards: 11+                                                 Packaging: Sheets

   Winner Stamp Description:  Unknown

   Front Design:  Rikishi are standing in their kesho mawashi.  Basic colors for background are either red, blue, green or yellow.  Shikona is vertical on either the top right or left.

   Back Design:  The back of the menko has a playing card, or trump, theme to it.  Each menko has a different playing card on the top.  There is a space themed picture below that in the middle with a Gu-Choki-Pa in one of the corners of this picture.  A 14 digit Fighting Number is along the bottom.  Menko backs are printed in brown ink and it looks like 2 to 3 back variations exist of each menko.