1956 Sumo Menko

"The Golden Decade"

The 1950s are considered the Golden Decade in the 30 or so years of sumo's menko popularity.  The most sets were produced in this decade, over 100 in all.  Also, about a dozen companies were printing and distributing menko to local candy shops in hopes of enticing kids to buy their product.  In 1953 NHK started televising matches and a huge sumo boom was created.  At one time there were 4 channels televising the matches!  This also is reflected in the production of menko as most sets from the 1950s were printed from 1953 and after.  The early to mid 1950s was dominated by 3 relatively weak Yokozuna, Chiyonoyama, Yoshibayama, Kagamisato, and one rather strong Yokozuna: Tochinishiki.  There was also an young and rising start, Wakanohana who later became a powerful Yokozuna and all these stars can easily be found throughout all sets.  Menko also took on a new form in the 1950s.  No longer were menko used for just battle, but many children were collecting them and not destroying them in battle.  The later half of the 1950s saw a rise in production quality as well as a typically more aesthetically pleasing design.  With the increase in the number of basho, many menko companies couldn't keep up with the banzuke and printing coordination and thus hardly any menko printed after 1956/1957 have any rank information on them. 

1. 1956 Dai Shikona 12-13 Set

2. 1956 Gold Trump 9 Set

3. 1956 Kagome Caricature Trump 7-8 Set

6. 1956 Kaminari Sensou 8 Set

7. 1956 Karuta Set

8. 1956 Marukami Hoshi 6 Set

9. 1956 Marukami Hoshi Bromide 6 Set

10. 1956 Marusan Jyunishi Nagai 3-5-6 Set

11. 1956 Marusan Jyunishi Nagai Bromide 3-6 Set

13. 1956 Maruta Trump 8-9 Set

14. 1956 Sanenchuu 9-10 Set

15. 1956 Sanenchuu Block 9 Set

16. 1956 Sanenchuu Block 10-12 Set

17. 1956 Sanenchuu Mini 11-13 Set

18. 1956 Sanenchuu Slant 10 Set

19. 1956 Trump 9-10 Set

20. 1956 Tsuriyane 7-8 Set

21. 1956 Waku 6 Set