1958 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. 1958 Dai Gunbai 6 Set

2. 1958 Dai Gunbai Bromide 6 Set

3. 1958 Dash 7-8 Set

4. 1958 Dou Kiku Blue 7 Set

5. 1958 Dou Kiku Bromide 7 Set

6. 1958 Dou Kiku Brown 7 Set

7. 1958 Gunbai Dot 6 Set

8. 1958 Hata 6 Set

9. 1958 Heya 6 Set

10. 1958 Hokyoku 10 Set

11. 1958 Kimarite 6 Set

12. 1958 Mitsuwa Trump 20 Set

13. 1958 Nibusa 6-7 Set

14. 1958 Sanenchu Thick 10-11-12 Set

15. 1958 Sanenchu Thin 11-12 Set