M581

1958 Dash 7-8 Set

M581-1, Type 1: Green Ink on Back

M581-2, Type 2: Blue Ink on Back

M581-3, Type 3: Gold Ink on Front, Blue Ink on Back

    Description:  These menko were bundled together in stacks of 4 of the same Rikishi and then wrapped in a very fine tissue and packed in a small cardboard box.  There were about 200 of these tissue wrapped packs in a box.  The box was then bound with a single piece of twine and sold to Dagashiya for children to buy.  Kids could purchase packs of these cards for a few yen.  One extremely interesting fact is that included in these boxes were prize sheets of gold inked menko.  The borders and other white parts were printed with a gold, glittering ink.  If a child bought a pack of menko and it contained a winner stamp they would win one of the gold ink sheets.  A 3-level winner would win a 3-menko gold sheet.  A 2-level winner would win a 4-menko gold sheet.  A 2-level winner would win a 5-menko gold sheet and the top prize would win a special prize.  Most cards on the market are in very good condition with nice, sharp corners and straight edges.  These menko have good coloring and are on nice, heavy paper stock.  A typical set of the late 1950s with one of Yokozuna Kagamisato's last menko!

    Company: Unknown                                       Availability: Type 1 - Rare, Type 2 - Scarce, Type 1 Gold Proofs-Extremely Rare!, Type 2 Gold Proofs - I've never seen them before!

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

    # of Cards: 12+                                              Packaging: Box

   Winner Stamp Description: Unknown

   Front Design:  Most of the cards show the rikishi in various poses on randomly colored backgrounds. 

   Back Design:  The rikishi's shikona appears vertically under a Gu-Choki-Pa which is at the top of the middle column.  It's interesting to note that the rikishi's rank isn't noted anywhere on the card.  The 7 or 8 digit Fighting Numbers are at the bottom.  Back of menko are printed in blue or green.