G611

1961 Doyusha Shiki 5 Set

    Description:  These menko are quite unique in the fact that they can be used to play a variety of games.  The traditional playing card symbols (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs) appear on the menko and the box indicates that it could be played as a slapping/matching game as well as menko.  Menko came on perforated two card panels and feature 10 different rikishi in 4 separate sets for a total of 40 menko.  This is known as the "Seasons" set as each 10-menko set was a different color and has the Japanese Kanji for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter on each set.  Spring is the #1 green spade set.  Summer is the #2 yellow diamond set.  Autumn is the #3 blue hearts set.  Winter is the #4 red club set.  There is an almost identical set to this printed 2 years earlier in 1959.  The only differences were the 1959 set was printed in 4x10 sheets (see picture) instead of the two-menko perforated style and the #5 menko in each set is Yokozuna Tochinishiki instead of Yokozuna Taiho.  These are the last Ozeki menko of Taiho and Kashiwado as they were promoted to Yokozuna a few months later.  Also, these are the last Yokozuna menko known for both Wakanohana and Asashio as this set was printed late in 1961 as they retired a few months later.

    Company: Doyusha

    Size: 1.5" x 2.75"

    Availability: Common

    # of Cards: 40

   Front Design:  Simple photo of rikishi surrounded by a solid color border: Green, Yellow, Blue or Red.  Menko #1 in all sets is Wakachichibu, #2 is Wakanohana, #3 is Wakahaguro, #4 is Wakamisugi, #5 is Taiho, #6 is Haguroyama(formally Annenyama), #7 is Kashiwado, #8 is Asashio, #9 is Tochihikari and #10 is Fusanishiki.

   Back Design:  Blue playing card back design