Japanese Sumo Wrestling Cards and Menko
Monday, June 1, 2020
1971 Japanese Sumo Wrestling 3D Lenticular Cards - Move over Kellogg's!
This auction had me super excited as I counted down the days until it ended and I wasn't about ready to let these slip through my fingers. For the vintage sumo menko and card collectors, this is the toughest set to find in the post-menko era (after 1964). Some of the very first lenticular/3D cards in both the Japanese baseball and sumo world, this 15-20 card set features baseball players, boxers, and sumo wrestlers. These black-backed wonders capture the very first card of Takamiyama, the first foreigner to win a sumo tournament, as well as Tamanoumi who was destined for greatness only to pass away shortly after this card was produced from appendicitis. I have seen only one other of these (another Takamiyama) and these will likely only pop up once every 5-10 years at the rate I am seeing them. Distribution of these is unknown, but could have very well been issued with candy or gum. Have a great week and stay safe out there. Sayonara!
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The Japanese version of Kellogg's. Maybe these were distributed in cereal boxes? Regardless of distribution, these are fantastic! Congratulations on the find!
ReplyDeleteThese are pretty legit and I wish they were easier to come by.
DeleteAh those are so awesome, congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteWere those a Yahoo Auction or an Ebay find?
Thanks YJA. Engel has them listed as R-4 for rarity so the Japanese baseball onesie are hard to come by as well.
DeleteWould it be sacrilege if I said that these looked better than the Kellogg's baseball cards?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but Kellogg’s have better backs for sure.
DeleteNice! These were issued by Kabaya, right? I'd agree with your guess that they were given away with gum or candy.
ReplyDeleteDid you get any of the baseball ones?
I only picked up these two. Have never seen a baseball one before other than in Engel’s book.
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