1956 Karuta Set

    Description:  This is a karuta set and not a menko set, but I thought I'd include it on this site since it is from the era.  Karuta is a popular game in Japan and these cards are from an alphabet karuta set; hence the Japanese hiragana on the front of the cards.  The set that I have found isn't quite complete but has almost all the popular rikishi of the era as well as corresponding reader cards.

    Company: Unknown                                           Availability: Rikishi cards: Scarce, Reader cards: Rare

    Card Size: 2.5" X 3.5"                                       Card Material: Thin, Paper stock

     # of Cards: 45 rikishi cards, 45 Reader Cards       Packaging: Sheets

   Key Cards:  Any Yokozuna

   Winner Stamp Description:  N/A

   Front Design:  A photo of the rikishi standing in their kesho-mawashi.  Several menko have other sumo scenes and will be indicated below.  Background is a solid pastel color and the corresponding Hiragana character is in the upper right or left on each card.  The character is printed in white and is in a blue or red circle.

   Back Design:  Backs are blank

Tsunenoyama + Reader Card
Banzuke Checklist					Hiragana Checklist
Rank	Shikona	Hiragana Letter			Rank	Shikona	Hiragana Letter
Yokozuna	Chiyonoyama	I			Maegashira	Tsunenoyama	A
Yokozuna	Yoshibayama	Ni			Yokozuna	Chiyonoyama	I
Yokozuna	Kagamisato	No					U
Yokozuna					Sekiwake	Asashio	E
Ozeki	Ouchiyama	Ta			Maegashira	Onobori	O
Ozeki	Matsunobori	Ma			Maegashira	Tamanoumi	Ka
Ozeki	Wakanohana	Ri			Maegashira	Daitenryu	Ki
Ozeki	Wakanoyama	Yu			Warmup		Ku
Sekiwake	Asashio	E			Maegashira	Tochihikari	Ke
Sekiwake	Dewanishiki	He			Maegashira	Wakasegawa	Ko
Sekiwake	Tsurugamine	Re					Sa
Komusubi	Tokitsuyama	Nu					Shi
Maegashira	Tsunenoyama	A			Maegashira	Narutoumi	Su
Maegashira	Onobori	O					Se
Maegashira	Tamanoumi	Ka			Maegashira	Naruyama	So
Maegashira	Daitenryu	Ki			Ozeki	Ouchiyama	Ta
Maegashira	Tochihikari	Ke					Chi
Maegashira	Wakasegawa	Ko			Maegashira	Futatsuryu	Tsu
Maegashira	Narutoumi	Su					Te
Maegashira	Naruyama	So					To
Maegashira	Futatsuryu	Tsu					Na
Maegashira	Otachi	Ne			Yokozuna	Yoshibayama	Ni
Maegashira	Ohikari	Ha			Komusubi	Tokitsuyama	Nu
Maegashira	Kuninobori	Hi			Maegashira	Otachi	Ne
Maegashira	Shimanishiki	Ho			Yokozuna	Kagamisato	No
Maegashira	Shinobuyama	Me			Maegashira	Ohikari	Ha
Maegashira	Kiyoenami	Ro			Maegashira	Kuninobori	Hi
Maegashira	Mitsuneyama	Yo			Taiko Drumming		Fu
Maegashira	Wakamaeda	Wa			Sekiwake	Dewanishiki	He
Maegashira					Maegashira	Shimanishiki	Ho
Maegashira					Ozeki	Matsunobori	Ma
Maegashira							Mi
Maegashira					Gyoji		Mu
Maegashira					Maegashira	Shinobuyama	Me
Maegashira							Mo
Maegashira					Tachiai		Ra
Maegashira					Ozeki	Wakanohana	Ri
Maegashira							Ru
Maegashira					Sekiwake	Tsurugamine	Re
Maegashira					Maegashira	Kiyoenami	Ro
Warmup		Ku			Komusubi	Hajimayama	Ya
Taiko Drumming		Fu			Ozeki	Wakanoyama	Yu
Gyoji		Mu			Maegashira	Mitsuneyama	Yo
Tachiai		Ra			Maegashira	Wakamaeda	Wa
							O