tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55187015233279848192024-03-12T19:30:20.328-07:00Japanese Sumo Wrestling Cards and MenkoJapanese Sumo Wrestling Cards and MenkoSumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.comBlogger363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-25396706863259275262022-05-14T04:00:00.004-07:002022-05-14T04:00:00.184-07:00Shohei Ohtani - Japanese BBM 2013 1st Version "Wing" Rookie Cards<p>Shohei Ohtani is having another great year and I thought it might be a good idea to dust this post off and update it slightly for accuracy. Ohtani's Japanese rookie cards often get overlooked or ignored by many collectors because of the difficulty in understanding the Japanese baseball card market. BBM, much like Topps, is the dominate company distributing baseball cards in Japan and has been producing baseball cards since 1991. There are numerous other collectors out there that are much more knowledgeable than me on Japanese baseball cards, but I wanted to highlight Ohtani's first true rookie cards from the 2013 Japanese BBM 1st Version Set. This is the first regular BBM set that features Ohtani (not counting the Rookie Edition set) and features 11 different cards based on the iconic #183 pitching image! BBM calls their releases 1st Version and 2nd Version which is comparable to Topps Series 1 and Series 2. Check out my YouTube video at the very end!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Box</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9liz68V0GQ/YNZ_HElpUXI/AAAAAAAAFFY/L58XwHtHtQU-qAKKTPxYE-ZsLj33P05EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/BBM%2B2013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="340" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9liz68V0GQ/YNZ_HElpUXI/AAAAAAAAFFY/L58XwHtHtQU-qAKKTPxYE-ZsLj33P05EgCLcBGAsYHQ/w436-h640/BBM%2B2013.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>This is the box that could land you the following cards:<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">* Red Wing #183 - Base</p><p style="text-align: left;">* Red Wing #183 - Silver Foil Signature</p><p style="text-align: left;">* Red Wing #183 - Gold Foil Signature #ed to 100</p><p style="text-align: left;">* Red Wing #183 - Holo Foil Signature #ed to 50</p><p style="text-align: left;">* Red Wing #183 - Red Foil Signature #ed to 25</p><p style="text-align: left;">* Red Wing #183 - Blue Foil Signature #ed to 1</p><p style="text-align: left;">* Green Wing #183 - Rookie Foil #ed to 100</p><div><br /></div>___________________________________________________________________________________<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Red Wing #183 - Base</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Ohtani's most popular and iconic rookie card.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1DtvJaiuA8/YNZ3t82XDjI/AAAAAAAAFDI/jBu3fV4WBsQ57Pzcujn5OCD_YoW3yJRFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1084/Otani%2BBase%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="776" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1DtvJaiuA8/YNZ3t82XDjI/AAAAAAAAFDI/jBu3fV4WBsQ57Pzcujn5OCD_YoW3yJRFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w286-h400/Otani%2BBase%2BFront.jpg" width="286" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4cRsptgf0xA/YNZ3zNcvuWI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/dmqrt42gviY28ax9Pd5GLAcg_vXCaiQPACLcBGAsYHQ/s1083/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="787" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4cRsptgf0xA/YNZ3zNcvuWI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/dmqrt42gviY28ax9Pd5GLAcg_vXCaiQPACLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div>___________________________________________________________________________________<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Red Wing #183 - Silver Foil Signature</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Affordable silver facsimile signature parallel that is unnumbered. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDhgUvl0f1c/YNZ4OocG3dI/AAAAAAAAFDc/0Ap3K1Gl0B4f8Csse0-PFN4h0DqMKXqjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s604/Otani%2BSilver%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="425" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDhgUvl0f1c/YNZ4OocG3dI/AAAAAAAAFDc/0Ap3K1Gl0B4f8Csse0-PFN4h0DqMKXqjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w281-h400/Otani%2BSilver%2BFront.jpg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMMwY7ggprk/YNZ4TClCCQI/AAAAAAAAFDg/elf7nzE8vF0MiNGM2qn3H3tkdjVEf1YggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1083/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="787" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMMwY7ggprk/YNZ4TClCCQI/AAAAAAAAFDg/elf7nzE8vF0MiNGM2qn3H3tkdjVEf1YggCLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Red Wing #183 - Gold Foil Signature</span></b><b> #ed/100</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Spendy gold facsimile signature parallel numbered to 100. Difficult to find. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in7AzEd-LmU/YNZ4tz4SJgI/AAAAAAAAFDs/TIW5J0ShEMUjf2vOozGffJGyBPAQxRyIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s651/Otani%2BGold%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="464" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in7AzEd-LmU/YNZ4tz4SJgI/AAAAAAAAFDs/TIW5J0ShEMUjf2vOozGffJGyBPAQxRyIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w285-h400/Otani%2BGold%2BFront.jpg" width="285" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ6mwZzdpkI/YNZ4t0o0srI/AAAAAAAAFDo/x2JZedwPcaERzu63oKoiZI-jkey0pM9sACLcBGAsYHQ/s629/Otani%2BGold%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="456" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ6mwZzdpkI/YNZ4t0o0srI/AAAAAAAAFDo/x2JZedwPcaERzu63oKoiZI-jkey0pM9sACLcBGAsYHQ/w290-h400/Otani%2BGold%2BBack.jpg" width="290" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Red Wing #183 - Holo Foil Signature</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> #ed/50</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Very difficult to find & expensive hologram foil parallel numbered to only 50. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSk7INHJOIE/YNZ5MzLt2UI/AAAAAAAAFD8/Cfgy1sB5mJIevS0MF-vfyenNNALM5cm9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s647/Otani%2BSparkle%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSk7INHJOIE/YNZ5MzLt2UI/AAAAAAAAFD8/Cfgy1sB5mJIevS0MF-vfyenNNALM5cm9ACLcBGAsYHQ/w289-h400/Otani%2BSparkle%2BFront.jpg" width="289" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Os_JTDcTkd8/YNZ5M-SZgBI/AAAAAAAAFD4/zRdPvtG_RggPwJPVEm6np4wVxRJCF44zwCLcBGAsYHQ/s664/Otani%2BSparkle%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="472" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Os_JTDcTkd8/YNZ5M-SZgBI/AAAAAAAAFD4/zRdPvtG_RggPwJPVEm6np4wVxRJCF44zwCLcBGAsYHQ/w284-h400/Otani%2BSparkle%2BBack.jpg" width="284" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Red Wing #183 - Red Foil Signature </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">#ed/25</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2SOkB0PSyE/YOIO_S0vITI/AAAAAAAAFI0/MgISFoQ6bdYEshm0hee_9vBCFoSDU4QxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s568/Ohtani%2BRed%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="433" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2SOkB0PSyE/YOIO_S0vITI/AAAAAAAAFI0/MgISFoQ6bdYEshm0hee_9vBCFoSDU4QxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w305-h400/Ohtani%2BRed%2BFront.jpg" width="305" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh3wIf6ZXdY/YOIO_R0VkOI/AAAAAAAAFIw/0uvcdnRwxiYypTWGGTCYj5iEJtHPSGIPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s581/Ohtani%2BRed%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="459" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh3wIf6ZXdY/YOIO_R0VkOI/AAAAAAAAFIw/0uvcdnRwxiYypTWGGTCYj5iEJtHPSGIPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w253-h320/Ohtani%2BRed%2BBack.jpg" width="253" /></a></div></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">___________________________________________________________________________________</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Red Wing #183 - Blue Foil Signature</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> #ed/1</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">No image available.</p><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Green Wing #183 - Rookie Foil</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> #ed/100</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">A few of these show up for auction on occasion. Very expensive and numbered to 100. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRNokOW3QXw/YOIPSC-ItpI/AAAAAAAAFJE/laG83JRUuEUljG4QOsCdqKQsvaGHUozRACLcBGAsYHQ/s612/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="438" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRNokOW3QXw/YOIPSC-ItpI/AAAAAAAAFJE/laG83JRUuEUljG4QOsCdqKQsvaGHUozRACLcBGAsYHQ/w286-h400/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BFront.jpg" width="286" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SBr8HWnZaM/YOIPSKGbogI/AAAAAAAAFJA/kdIUdWxlH1Y9LdWTVvuVROyS6SQgyZZYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s619/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SBr8HWnZaM/YOIPSKGbogI/AAAAAAAAFJA/kdIUdWxlH1Y9LdWTVvuVROyS6SQgyZZYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w294-h400/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BBack.jpg" width="294" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;">__________________________________________________________________________________</span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Green Wing</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> #KP2</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Handed out during a family event at Kamagaya Stadium (Photo courtesy of Ameba)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKG9eJosl3A/YNZ8oYnr8QI/AAAAAAAAFEc/ZmI5ec8McgI23X0yHGnKPd5E_RdNx6oOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Otani%2BGreenFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKG9eJosl3A/YNZ8oYnr8QI/AAAAAAAAFEc/ZmI5ec8McgI23X0yHGnKPd5E_RdNx6oOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w283-h400/Otani%2BGreenFront.jpg" width="283" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3ywfmJ1ifM/YNZ8oVuoP4I/AAAAAAAAFEY/-N3aNbTdcbEJpxrbH5LXXyxWvizqIdCpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1044/Otani%2BGreen%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="724" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3ywfmJ1ifM/YNZ8oVuoP4I/AAAAAAAAFEY/-N3aNbTdcbEJpxrbH5LXXyxWvizqIdCpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w278-h400/Otani%2BGreen%2BBack.jpg" width="278" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Pink Wing</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> #SL07</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Handed out at another stadium event (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywPLvr2pPBXHIUy74br8rg886CUgEuTR1M-FCPmx61Cbw0zeUrdorRvwL2qk7wPUBV7JIquaBOmEBeGgoNDE7aYxAHkyndfUehr_-ksybU7JiEqjw2mMCFmTadkoIGg1pfihP59OlUy7glEJNjoLcl5Ft-d39JY9zo2Qu4Zhxz4gt8SCMlQtbkNzCqQ/s636/Pink%20Wing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywPLvr2pPBXHIUy74br8rg886CUgEuTR1M-FCPmx61Cbw0zeUrdorRvwL2qk7wPUBV7JIquaBOmEBeGgoNDE7aYxAHkyndfUehr_-ksybU7JiEqjw2mMCFmTadkoIGg1pfihP59OlUy7glEJNjoLcl5Ft-d39JY9zo2Qu4Zhxz4gt8SCMlQtbkNzCqQ/w286-h400/Pink%20Wing.jpg" width="286" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfSzqwHWuC4/YNZ9WJj5FpI/AAAAAAAAFEs/p7TGm8JA3nMNv4LmvIIz15Qt7Yu4UNd-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s624/Otani%2BPink%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfSzqwHWuC4/YNZ9WJj5FpI/AAAAAAAAFEs/p7TGm8JA3nMNv4LmvIIz15Qt7Yu4UNd-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w295-h400/Otani%2BPink%2BBack.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;">___________________________________________________________________________________</span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Purple Wing #183 - S</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ports Card Magazine (SCM) Base</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Issue #98 of Sports Card Magazine had 5 original promotional cards including this one of Ohtani.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLOmgASs27CvoHVMMyl0IBGvgFOnwuagwtkJRS_HdruW_24ht17S458J7Oh-OoGk9hAbo2ZN8V8q_Ton4yVb31h5m05_KZwuy_uqF9-e0BCkZaDvPU6HsCXden1bcgj_2Ss6HQ9QtepgpoyHzyEIe5LPunk_6LaxRFO-x5TYOaLad4vagg9bz1EXg1Q/s600/SCM%2098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLOmgASs27CvoHVMMyl0IBGvgFOnwuagwtkJRS_HdruW_24ht17S458J7Oh-OoGk9hAbo2ZN8V8q_Ton4yVb31h5m05_KZwuy_uqF9-e0BCkZaDvPU6HsCXden1bcgj_2Ss6HQ9QtepgpoyHzyEIe5LPunk_6LaxRFO-x5TYOaLad4vagg9bz1EXg1Q/w468-h640/SCM%2098.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcWG4ou52uE/YNZ-a7RQ7XI/AAAAAAAAFE4/whj03Na4-AYn9IFUz2Oqui_5vOU-l88XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1096/Otani%2BSCM%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="804" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcWG4ou52uE/YNZ-a7RQ7XI/AAAAAAAAFE4/whj03Na4-AYn9IFUz2Oqui_5vOU-l88XwCLcBGAsYHQ/w294-h400/Otani%2BSCM%2BFront.jpg" width="294" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHENYDFSrDs/YNZ-a8L8sCI/AAAAAAAAFE8/R3nMRw_0Z_QXRYmWxeu6A-ZXm_5i_0aJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1089/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="793" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHENYDFSrDs/YNZ-a8L8sCI/AAAAAAAAFE8/R3nMRw_0Z_QXRYmWxeu6A-ZXm_5i_0aJgCLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM 1st Version Purple Wing #183 - S</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ports Card Magazine (SCM) Silver Foil</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Randomly inserted in SCM #98 were silver facsimile signature parallels. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3lzJ3ZQeyFyrxSk9o42o9IDClQC4sKXfLHfkg9y7ngbeLaAAkszMfo5nLJx_CFFEaRGLVS-zOGFqlBu-76uQPWTJ13-GPqXcTSU8138r5EBnzhJB4aF6xcMBYA1-anOdV7F9ourkfaTK4hvMdOWGPj8j5NV38JmC6kaV5Jj1tOKtcv7tdwiJ4YQzWA/s872/Purple%20Wing%20-%20Silver%20Foil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="633" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3lzJ3ZQeyFyrxSk9o42o9IDClQC4sKXfLHfkg9y7ngbeLaAAkszMfo5nLJx_CFFEaRGLVS-zOGFqlBu-76uQPWTJ13-GPqXcTSU8138r5EBnzhJB4aF6xcMBYA1-anOdV7F9ourkfaTK4hvMdOWGPj8j5NV38JmC6kaV5Jj1tOKtcv7tdwiJ4YQzWA/w290-h400/Purple%20Wing%20-%20Silver%20Foil.jpg" width="290" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Vh3ujO1nFM/YNZ-wv8D21I/AAAAAAAAFFI/MCBh0HXOYWEzdRxXNoKPjw-g8MPMntzdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1089/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="793" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Vh3ujO1nFM/YNZ-wv8D21I/AAAAAAAAFFI/MCBh0HXOYWEzdRxXNoKPjw-g8MPMntzdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div>Check out my YouTube Video!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KSAsxCWDA9U" width="320" youtube-src-id="KSAsxCWDA9U"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-46419295059981574202022-05-12T14:00:00.011-07:002022-05-12T14:00:00.178-07:00H553: 1955 Ranga 9 Sumo Wrestling Brick/Slammer Set!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Many years ago I discovered this 1955 Renga 9 set...probably at least 10-12 years ago at this point...and they are so rare that I never knew there was an actual variation with this set. The backs come in two different ink colors: brown and blue. Finding any menko from this set is tough, now there are variations I'll have to chase. Aside from the back variations, this specific H553 set is gorgeous on the front...gold ink makes the images pop off the cardboard and adds to their quality and rarity. Featuring almost all the top-ranked wrestlers from 1955, it has and early card of Wakanohana who was extremely popular and ultimate taking sumo to new popularity heights before handing the reigns over to one of the greatest Yokozuna of all time, Taiho, in the early 1960s. Not to mention he was the uncle of Hanada boys who took sumo to all-time record heights in the early 1990s as Yokozuna Wakanohana and Takanohana!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-6cr6kjiaLzCtfNBFnkMrUpyV3QBC7aOiZ3ROqNmC6GNE_j0ZqDZ5Lls9Ov72yauMU3G62Ik70cZrPUgHZ8rG467Q8KZAfWOWbdGZbZcMHw6tbO5KUQ4veuCLcCJ2LQN0F7dCgS_rd5TizH8fwxC1JdZZkRb2osMkVHWvhpEUeGcfajLuECKM4qI9g/s2279/H553=3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2082" data-original-width="2279" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-6cr6kjiaLzCtfNBFnkMrUpyV3QBC7aOiZ3ROqNmC6GNE_j0ZqDZ5Lls9Ov72yauMU3G62Ik70cZrPUgHZ8rG467Q8KZAfWOWbdGZbZcMHw6tbO5KUQ4veuCLcCJ2LQN0F7dCgS_rd5TizH8fwxC1JdZZkRb2osMkVHWvhpEUeGcfajLuECKM4qI9g/w640-h584/H553=3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUNMGgnwD-VVabCJIUaNCs1YM5wuhI1s0yVoIqNsbKqCRlvSpyo1K7t9HDGjeN4u1xQqPcoYgZm6jMhsxjLLxZnZgIB0--SsEKx6T3bNsY5KcyEhW1X5t8FWuAXMoMsm97BFggh6f9n5u9KzUhj9glnnEbp2znB09T8Iu6vmfk_9Nnu2MsIDghkyOvA/s2067/H553-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="2067" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUNMGgnwD-VVabCJIUaNCs1YM5wuhI1s0yVoIqNsbKqCRlvSpyo1K7t9HDGjeN4u1xQqPcoYgZm6jMhsxjLLxZnZgIB0--SsEKx6T3bNsY5KcyEhW1X5t8FWuAXMoMsm97BFggh6f9n5u9KzUhj9glnnEbp2znB09T8Iu6vmfk_9Nnu2MsIDghkyOvA/w640-h636/H553-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">H-Series menko are thick menko that were used as slammers used in the game. Much like their modern-day POG counterparts, this heavy slammer was used to flip over the game menko and these heavy menko were often cherished by children. It can be hit or miss on the quality of these menko...some like the H553 are still in great condition. Others, however, are often beat up as you would expect. These H-Series menko didn't just feature sumo wrestlers, but there are many famous movie and screen stars on several other sets. </span></p><p>I recently did a YouTube video on finding two additional menko from this set...Yokozuna Chiyonoyama and Yokozuna Tochinishiki.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A76WR0T-7Qc" width="320" youtube-src-id="A76WR0T-7Qc"></iframe></div><br /><p>Thanks for stopping by!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-87903865141553641462022-04-25T14:00:00.015-07:002022-04-25T14:00:00.197-07:001983-1 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Playing Card Set<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I just did a video of this 1981-3 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Playing Trump Card Set over on my YouTube channel, but wanted to highlight a few more details here. The Japanese word for playing cards is </span><i style="text-align: left;">Trump </i><span style="text-align: left;">or トランプ. I'm sure there is a background on why it is called "</span><i style="text-align: left;">trump</i><span style="text-align: left;">"...probably was borrowed from another language.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP68Ih7ZXe5dPYfmDw49R7n8PoGTZ6prEXyNpjWZviOKSJoKv15R3VHF81AJehSV33B4Ai_O6p8AerBA0k24ELImiaimF9rd_FK4_tpNHGddwHJidjq9sUP80H0k1p5AmOfSZzEYxyI_Ujg9EITzwOP6wc_6msKkYg1Oc14C5N4g9c6WhwMUg6a-6dg/s1797/IMG_1574.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1797" data-original-width="1389" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP68Ih7ZXe5dPYfmDw49R7n8PoGTZ6prEXyNpjWZviOKSJoKv15R3VHF81AJehSV33B4Ai_O6p8AerBA0k24ELImiaimF9rd_FK4_tpNHGddwHJidjq9sUP80H0k1p5AmOfSZzEYxyI_Ujg9EITzwOP6wc_6msKkYg1Oc14C5N4g9c6WhwMUg6a-6dg/w494-h640/IMG_1574.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M2FX8pa2f-M" width="320" youtube-src-id="M2FX8pa2f-M"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><p>I really like these <i>trump </i>sets as they feature a lot of wrestlers that really only ever got cards in these sets. A brief history...these continued to be printed today, but started in 1973. They usually came out one set per year (except in 2012 when the big match-fixing scandal hit sumo and in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), but at the height of sumo's popularity in the early 1990s they were cranking out 3 sets per year. These sets were only available at the <i>kokugikan </i>and souvenir shops.</p><p>This particular 1983-1 set was printed in March 1983 and has some notable <i>rikishi </i>in the set: the d<i>ai-yokozuna</i> Chiyonofuji as the King Diamonds, the great <i>Yokozuna </i>Kitanoumi as the King of Hearts, <i>Yokozuna </i>Takanosato ranked as an <i>Ozeki </i>as Queen of Spades, the young Asashifuji ranked as a <i>Maegashira </i>before he became <i>Yokozuna </i>later on in the 1980s. and of course Takamiyama who seemed like would keep competing forever. There was a 1983-2 set made in September of that year that included an extra Queen of Clubs that showed Takanosato as a recently promoted Yokozuna...this was done to hold people over until the following year when a whole new set could be printed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn9g0r97JhzQIv3gYOGLVsuYFF-c-9RqjlGiAf_S6Dksicu6DVF86wHx_F-S9tQtbswqcwXvEccsGQoms_cSEusJnZinli_iiAS1RRwN_XEAD2nJQAP0AflX3QK-UQQQcxyAuHufUuUMvvWMomCwE1Y__B3EL3RJxXdrfI6CObbODWXOrkhr3ikxWUg/s3803/IMG_1575.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2725" data-original-width="3803" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn9g0r97JhzQIv3gYOGLVsuYFF-c-9RqjlGiAf_S6Dksicu6DVF86wHx_F-S9tQtbswqcwXvEccsGQoms_cSEusJnZinli_iiAS1RRwN_XEAD2nJQAP0AflX3QK-UQQQcxyAuHufUuUMvvWMomCwE1Y__B3EL3RJxXdrfI6CObbODWXOrkhr3ikxWUg/w640-h458/IMG_1575.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I haven't been able to research much about who manufactured these sets, but the case does say "Alaska Playing Card Company"...not sure if they made just the plastic storage cases or the whole sets. A brief search on Google doesn't yield anything. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiIygKi5_-Urr8OiaQgi8djocphjsYOholFL-x3bnmfxfXDwwI4tfqhxYRnMujtUxt8e7mkvLVZ_j4OWUiGjrmxntuD6nGRdvGwAwcGB4APqZ7fKIjB5DD0h03QHX8xNgaP1IL6_wXBfV3wGPeiApuj9WNAbSJH9WD_k7Y6n3ZcaOL5OWBuS4tnbfHg/s4032/IMG_1576.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiIygKi5_-Urr8OiaQgi8djocphjsYOholFL-x3bnmfxfXDwwI4tfqhxYRnMujtUxt8e7mkvLVZ_j4OWUiGjrmxntuD6nGRdvGwAwcGB4APqZ7fKIjB5DD0h03QHX8xNgaP1IL6_wXBfV3wGPeiApuj9WNAbSJH9WD_k7Y6n3ZcaOL5OWBuS4tnbfHg/w640-h480/IMG_1576.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>Thanks for tuning in and certainly appreciate all the support over the years!</p></div><br />SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-20802948874081167242022-02-12T14:03:00.003-08:002022-02-12T14:03:44.151-08:00Definitive Overview of Japanese Sumo Wrestling Cards & Menko<p>One of my 2022 goals is to do a better job of tying in my blogging content to my YouTube content. I know YouTube might turn some of you off, but since about October 2021 I've been exploring the video medium for getting some of my Japanese sumo wrestling card and menko content out there. However, I still do enjoy writing and so wanted to wrap together video and written content on occasion. Recently I was able to publish my 5th Edition of the Sumo Menko & Card Checklist and it has been well-received. After about 5 years, it was time to publish a new edition.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9oHP56PA4pNY5Mr2z-7PapWSWloyHi1eaB5bKht4RopHvIETl9PrCor6K5rFVg3myRrn-2Dun5hb3ek9Ug2oYq1VMSIKoeHSjg0_-7iRLKz4CL8YBqKumajPXx_fn0nN6RPPGwH9H5DqY0J2DkYr_YvVvw3z53AJy5wKPSLbruGZHAMmHwIbT-rp1vQ=s1039" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9oHP56PA4pNY5Mr2z-7PapWSWloyHi1eaB5bKht4RopHvIETl9PrCor6K5rFVg3myRrn-2Dun5hb3ek9Ug2oYq1VMSIKoeHSjg0_-7iRLKz4CL8YBqKumajPXx_fn0nN6RPPGwH9H5DqY0J2DkYr_YvVvw3z53AJy5wKPSLbruGZHAMmHwIbT-rp1vQ=w494-h640" width="494" /></a></div><br /><p>One thing I really wanted to tune up for this fifth edition was the 20 different types of sumo menko & cards there are out there. I recently uploaded a video on YouTube to walk through each of the types, but I wanted to memorialize each of the 20 types here as well. Each and every menko and card that was made from the 1800s to 2022 falls into one of these 20 categories:</p><p><u><b>A-Series Candy Cards</b></u> - Issued with candy and gum from the early 1900s, these extremely-hard-to find cards were usually redeemed for prizes and thus seldom show up at auction. This A591: 1959 Karuso Cookie Card is hard to identify, but I think it is Maegashira Wakamisugi.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzk95X1U8-UobZhzBi1uEErBPd9OcfySffaElQ-uvk7iHegBQsKp5taBGsaEVZ1vebu3jzUgDSa90jk-v8cj6cMrRFBn7a5vtKHl78_6ZonOIZtPH8zsUMV6hca6wKcLFY2uk86LSiYhqknotbfxb159ITPrXsfGOMsrxYlehXZPsPiHq2hJdqJT_etQ=s664" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzk95X1U8-UobZhzBi1uEErBPd9OcfySffaElQ-uvk7iHegBQsKp5taBGsaEVZ1vebu3jzUgDSa90jk-v8cj6cMrRFBn7a5vtKHl78_6ZonOIZtPH8zsUMV6hca6wKcLFY2uk86LSiYhqknotbfxb159ITPrXsfGOMsrxYlehXZPsPiHq2hJdqJT_etQ=w284-h400" width="284" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRrdwTfMMiOqtyZbD28DUJfdtFrtqV0gg__etYHzHBtB1oCvNV4OBfg8GlAqieU-N63yn5G3s6phXGphsMzdMNUsPBwbVjIld_Ux74tNoO-GmWiWnrNIDuRQt9DJEULFayHk0LK-uJTwCr8UgL0DKzHlft13DqE890xPs0m5rHoWKPb9S5xaEw41lcIg=s664" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRrdwTfMMiOqtyZbD28DUJfdtFrtqV0gg__etYHzHBtB1oCvNV4OBfg8GlAqieU-N63yn5G3s6phXGphsMzdMNUsPBwbVjIld_Ux74tNoO-GmWiWnrNIDuRQt9DJEULFayHk0LK-uJTwCr8UgL0DKzHlft13DqE890xPs0m5rHoWKPb9S5xaEw41lcIg=w284-h400" width="284" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><u><b>B-Series Bookmark Cards</b></u> - A small handful of cards in bookmark form were sporadically issued in the first part of the 1950s. They don't appear to have been too popular and certainly not many were saved from the perils of history. This is Yokozuna Tochinishiki from the B563: 1956 Shiori Round-Top Set.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxPnhJpAHNMY1WmBj1pmk4N_l0BOK8mFAyQcm4qm7gpvTEBj3199YMwejWbhaE7xPbyPi2oi-M4uGpkYhWUHvYvTR7qwI1xHL2KNIwmODwMqBtPuarTJG6hH5vnjC85_0eh7WNVZxvwLYnmobWsPyNI8Wuk2x1vYGXkdo2tPbcflwNu1zHYBwGTcxcRA=s1569" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="549" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxPnhJpAHNMY1WmBj1pmk4N_l0BOK8mFAyQcm4qm7gpvTEBj3199YMwejWbhaE7xPbyPi2oi-M4uGpkYhWUHvYvTR7qwI1xHL2KNIwmODwMqBtPuarTJG6hH5vnjC85_0eh7WNVZxvwLYnmobWsPyNI8Wuk2x1vYGXkdo2tPbcflwNu1zHYBwGTcxcRA=w224-h640" width="224" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><u>BB-Series Black & White Bromide Menko and Card</u></b>s - These menko were printed with the halftone printing process and are much harder to find than their color counterparts. They became popular in the early 1940s. Yokozuna Haguroyama below adorns this menko from the BB521: 1952 Small Shikona 3-4 B&W set.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxccADlDSt9Ajn8bVQ7oluuc1CpgyCp_wIvvbf5KppsmTDF4TAnLfEQWUnMa-u8yDPCRrorjmctlYRQaTEPOCgsGLlXcPCOJGcyhK-Iq3Tk5nDvshuRH-WSAmHcBLFXnI_0mFCWkxwwWNXQYlF76qPT5VJEeTugjaJIFPUIJGuMctFGlyzA915YWNbEg=s777" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="556" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxccADlDSt9Ajn8bVQ7oluuc1CpgyCp_wIvvbf5KppsmTDF4TAnLfEQWUnMa-u8yDPCRrorjmctlYRQaTEPOCgsGLlXcPCOJGcyhK-Iq3Tk5nDvshuRH-WSAmHcBLFXnI_0mFCWkxwwWNXQYlF76qPT5VJEeTugjaJIFPUIJGuMctFGlyzA915YWNbEg=w286-h400" width="286" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikXQeKJ38PLcdPcjiwEeB_LSH_st9O9RcCtgdjQwLZOHK8O4DOqeinTZ8fhrKslCPd4TRURGsxLLi9HZ_LKEB_9jdx-ZzMFr48cLpBK_cJuGxeh5PTzlOKeFg8kIAWcUCSdAE_9x9ttxCClIy7DbkeL5qUoh1KF_RwZmfcZk2e5xvBtHk6YBUMyv_79w=s782" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="556" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikXQeKJ38PLcdPcjiwEeB_LSH_st9O9RcCtgdjQwLZOHK8O4DOqeinTZ8fhrKslCPd4TRURGsxLLi9HZ_LKEB_9jdx-ZzMFr48cLpBK_cJuGxeh5PTzlOKeFg8kIAWcUCSdAE_9x9ttxCClIy7DbkeL5qUoh1KF_RwZmfcZk2e5xvBtHk6YBUMyv_79w=w285-h400" width="285" /></a></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p><u><b>BC-Series Color Bromide Menko and Cards</b></u> - Probably the most common and easy-to-find type of menko out there. They were produced in the millions and they frequently show up at auction today. If you are looking at where to start, make sure you pick up some of these like this Maegashira Wakabayama menko from the BC561-1: 1956 Marusan Jyunishi Nagai 3-5-6 Type 1 Printed Back Set.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmkUdg8Wu1QcNznub3q1cmboKyC7PtExfsFBgjjgGRJU21b8VEhfvvf32l0XEZu8YVn8yop_r2MuPfHu9wlL269KRtmzQJp-mFUcUjSEBNy8hr9BK0QO80Teuc0OeQdyzGxfAde307Ut6go-kmAuEndOfhPtcKfwvULAmWYktPN_aWbyvH7s14cpJaQA=s905" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="571" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmkUdg8Wu1QcNznub3q1cmboKyC7PtExfsFBgjjgGRJU21b8VEhfvvf32l0XEZu8YVn8yop_r2MuPfHu9wlL269KRtmzQJp-mFUcUjSEBNy8hr9BK0QO80Teuc0OeQdyzGxfAde307Ut6go-kmAuEndOfhPtcKfwvULAmWYktPN_aWbyvH7s14cpJaQA=w253-h400" width="253" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_18TG8DJ3vJwrp8WlyYzxrESjJdB2JlyedjK49WBCeoTte2GFKRZGhckiPyHaF4-3yKCqzOJBB4Ud0B_abKzQ65h_0GZq-vqjrRS-IkgEMt3mb6-ON1mniBjaJ8ryf7u53GxARkZs8apv0y3B7V0bP1N-ltEnVZvMeAT0lqsvtDdPqaqy-hSCxl6p5Q=s915" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="571" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_18TG8DJ3vJwrp8WlyYzxrESjJdB2JlyedjK49WBCeoTte2GFKRZGhckiPyHaF4-3yKCqzOJBB4Ud0B_abKzQ65h_0GZq-vqjrRS-IkgEMt3mb6-ON1mniBjaJ8ryf7u53GxARkZs8apv0y3B7V0bP1N-ltEnVZvMeAT0lqsvtDdPqaqy-hSCxl6p5Q=w250-h400" width="250" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p><u><b>BP-Series Bromide Photograph Cards </b></u>- These cards are really hard to catalog since the backs are usually blank and you have to rely on a sparse amount of detail on the front to try and find cards from the same set. I have hundreds of these in a stack that still need sorted. These BP cards were really popular in the 1940s and kids and adults would collect them and put them in albums and scrapbooks. Most are really hard to find in great condition, but this Ozeki Akinoumi from the BP419: 1941 White Shikona Bromide set survived a war and the brutality of time.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeDWGPj6VpqnbpFsDcpWbJl-ReHDLeB_WTj4U4aIZuX1CGYcg5xUyh3Ziq2eAFa2f7Rq5xex5Z8AwZBSDliR41tfFSucWkA1kcTL8WFS9sEtNGNWFIAeKXwhxYxDJsGnDufAbJKHs_H00qBe5XTxk0bxdIztWb7CIW22dn3nlSuAsSxSKVmKH5Jr4vbg=s855" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeDWGPj6VpqnbpFsDcpWbJl-ReHDLeB_WTj4U4aIZuX1CGYcg5xUyh3Ziq2eAFa2f7Rq5xex5Z8AwZBSDliR41tfFSucWkA1kcTL8WFS9sEtNGNWFIAeKXwhxYxDJsGnDufAbJKHs_H00qBe5XTxk0bxdIztWb7CIW22dn3nlSuAsSxSKVmKH5Jr4vbg=w263-h400" width="263" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqYV9opesuEa7iVijx34i9RYSTX1eMd7j8Ef8CwtjA-aimckFS0Era1ZhnRJGMIv21HeRDAy9d2llpVJCHIAc9_BIqbvfp2R8JV0xob9EBBUcV8SeyWsNxL2n7aXlqP3nlHB4sPmUvERWt4HWCgT7viLIYzxfDckKTZ7Kd43cqsI4QA8CXGUIGA2my2Q=s863" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="546" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqYV9opesuEa7iVijx34i9RYSTX1eMd7j8Ef8CwtjA-aimckFS0Era1ZhnRJGMIv21HeRDAy9d2llpVJCHIAc9_BIqbvfp2R8JV0xob9EBBUcV8SeyWsNxL2n7aXlqP3nlHB4sPmUvERWt4HWCgT7viLIYzxfDckKTZ7Kd43cqsI4QA8CXGUIGA2my2Q=w253-h400" width="253" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>C-Series Circle Menko</b></u> - Precursors to POGs, these C-Series menko are extremely rare to find in the wild and most usually command a pretty high price. The C011: 1901 Large Disk Set with Komusubi Genjiyama features wood-block printed images!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVrluFlQQN6ZEpgpgdn87FtDosd_eRSr2WqtMQwOKh0UWJr3C7v6eHm6x9eXmFT1eBWU279hufLUiRV8YDrnZA-jIIsI6njQCKSIZcYWQJHs-mvmnUUc2FRyC5IsUyxoS3a-C36mMG_BCH0wCqkNG1LH53nZghBMdwlcqEgWoELj9IAtSEkNpwEJmFaQ=s659" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="639" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVrluFlQQN6ZEpgpgdn87FtDosd_eRSr2WqtMQwOKh0UWJr3C7v6eHm6x9eXmFT1eBWU279hufLUiRV8YDrnZA-jIIsI6njQCKSIZcYWQJHs-mvmnUUc2FRyC5IsUyxoS3a-C36mMG_BCH0wCqkNG1LH53nZghBMdwlcqEgWoELj9IAtSEkNpwEJmFaQ=w310-h320" width="310" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBF0cwIdqNiMfmhgn5LmZt1u5eSoFGbhHk01K4GMimzEiLKCL4hIp1Qdl_iP-vxryzMI1cUaJtmEP1XZS1aE-bqqnh5E2eIvbXOxr7I9Y2UUm5QRTOOJ2hR7YEhs4f8X5nwilTcT5cR_lJC92C5AcdbTYL7ak-A2ljityrSdUrS6Q4KoKqLgcm49iw0A=s659" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="639" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBF0cwIdqNiMfmhgn5LmZt1u5eSoFGbhHk01K4GMimzEiLKCL4hIp1Qdl_iP-vxryzMI1cUaJtmEP1XZS1aE-bqqnh5E2eIvbXOxr7I9Y2UUm5QRTOOJ2hR7YEhs4f8X5nwilTcT5cR_lJC92C5AcdbTYL7ak-A2ljityrSdUrS6Q4KoKqLgcm49iw0A=w194-h200" width="194" /></a></div></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>G-Series Game Cards</b></u> - Who doesn't love games...I've categorized all game cards in this series and there are some fun ones like this G552: 1955 Marugo Trump card game set with Yokozuna Chiyonoyama at the top of the deck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-yjDCRIXhIFIISBDXyy_V6-QvoHXbVnr15F5foDjW2LHLHngarvw8cbLUnNPdlx40Gzj7ISWCBssxS1aE3KlpadbHwiGHOX2GcPfXiAi0nyLp4nKS3enOytr6FL0Z-caAChF2jsT_7lbAneY0eX_aVmLGSsr2-6FtEXfnGXfnoi7rWyzxshmDBD63iw=s721" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="402" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-yjDCRIXhIFIISBDXyy_V6-QvoHXbVnr15F5foDjW2LHLHngarvw8cbLUnNPdlx40Gzj7ISWCBssxS1aE3KlpadbHwiGHOX2GcPfXiAi0nyLp4nKS3enOytr6FL0Z-caAChF2jsT_7lbAneY0eX_aVmLGSsr2-6FtEXfnGXfnoi7rWyzxshmDBD63iw=w223-h400" width="223" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibdSwL4bitcT54Fe1BbqSAIlV1UJlaOMVVtbcamWu29M9hRkVhJeo7p8GelhKkn3tEyxWsZ_0c0zR_0SAGW97E_BvW5UNRgBmLKb_bSf6cgyOw38-53O_H1LTtYJU4wxW2H8T-ZN_EQ2MvGV3UpO2qtZFCo5373J6c99cmLSOVfkmJIQ5tFfzT1sY3zQ=s728" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="408" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibdSwL4bitcT54Fe1BbqSAIlV1UJlaOMVVtbcamWu29M9hRkVhJeo7p8GelhKkn3tEyxWsZ_0c0zR_0SAGW97E_BvW5UNRgBmLKb_bSf6cgyOw38-53O_H1LTtYJU4wxW2H8T-ZN_EQ2MvGV3UpO2qtZFCo5373J6c99cmLSOVfkmJIQ5tFfzT1sY3zQ=w224-h400" width="224" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>H-Series Brick Menko</b></u> - Like the slammers in POGs, these heavy "brick" menko rarely survived menko battles in great shape. Use for slamming other menko in hopes of flipping them over, you'll know almost instantly if you have a "brick" menko like this Sekiwake Matsunobori that has gold ink on the front!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF89Y4-F9vKqmxqKAJEADqG6j7H-nbUTw-ZXG6qXfwFFf4fJoUvO7ncE3ARcGrXMbxeu_Z50hTnp45L5hlRKaODo3pHj3LXO6f95Ej7DfnMPgD7U98lpW8PasFmXuNEY3C4pTg6jhn_bR2UOVfsxWDbChzhgb38Zf8DpD7aCzyDNqIgiaQXQgyKYX_hg=s950" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF89Y4-F9vKqmxqKAJEADqG6j7H-nbUTw-ZXG6qXfwFFf4fJoUvO7ncE3ARcGrXMbxeu_Z50hTnp45L5hlRKaODo3pHj3LXO6f95Ej7DfnMPgD7U98lpW8PasFmXuNEY3C4pTg6jhn_bR2UOVfsxWDbChzhgb38Zf8DpD7aCzyDNqIgiaQXQgyKYX_hg=w275-h400" width="275" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia8U_ZWkpYI4lL7IoO_E0feVqxWaKw5gVfCyy6FpyxRPZpTpbi5rzHVdQOfG6CcPzugcK50gHczAr7ZvNkFfGfSbUEna8HgHoutLCqIbDgKjtvpr9CyoUInipLWeZw5AxwOcaMYxrGiHay7QZ7HovCnYtrgTMzb5RIYD8vo1qeqVORoFXZBsrg8AQAQA=s950" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia8U_ZWkpYI4lL7IoO_E0feVqxWaKw5gVfCyy6FpyxRPZpTpbi5rzHVdQOfG6CcPzugcK50gHczAr7ZvNkFfGfSbUEna8HgHoutLCqIbDgKjtvpr9CyoUInipLWeZw5AxwOcaMYxrGiHay7QZ7HovCnYtrgTMzb5RIYD8vo1qeqVORoFXZBsrg8AQAQA=w275-h400" width="275" /></a></div></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>K-Series Karuta Cards</b></u> - If you have spent any amount of time in Japan you will undoubtedly play a game or two of karuta. You need at least three people to play and the more the merrier! It is super fun and there are all sorts of themed sets, but the sumo decks are my favorite. This tattered K532: 1953 Sport and Celebrity Karuta Set with Maegashira Shimizugawa is one of my favorites! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZpTTWu8TUtA17Z9bej9zT1K6_tXFFdDssqJns5om3v6xQnu3mVV6FeuPB7jWEKMdFV8VMa_RFBbYNZYghAkgTHhxIGKkKOXJNhJRiuxg30M1-ErnFOZf1Orqso8lERAep2PqQ7zeReMyL-WZLKPTxPhjp5aoDtGzLWaQyx0qOfvXGn0dwThzz5N7bXg=s780" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="548" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZpTTWu8TUtA17Z9bej9zT1K6_tXFFdDssqJns5om3v6xQnu3mVV6FeuPB7jWEKMdFV8VMa_RFBbYNZYghAkgTHhxIGKkKOXJNhJRiuxg30M1-ErnFOZf1Orqso8lERAep2PqQ7zeReMyL-WZLKPTxPhjp5aoDtGzLWaQyx0qOfvXGn0dwThzz5N7bXg=w281-h400" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiffPULTYCo8OOYowlryEvTQzTDmu5MlH6HmghRPRKOufLDE7Vh9E_ddMbWxyLdh9Uiu-1AWvPaBImtg02oEZxm1URBGDIzrI6-tJgRsC-Bqz1m775D5sZ8o9-lrn2OISnvLUwHN60wao2p0xIiDahRDmWAqGbvkrMjmQpEW8C9yt60mygY6DnWzwq6Jw=s754" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiffPULTYCo8OOYowlryEvTQzTDmu5MlH6HmghRPRKOufLDE7Vh9E_ddMbWxyLdh9Uiu-1AWvPaBImtg02oEZxm1URBGDIzrI6-tJgRsC-Bqz1m775D5sZ8o9-lrn2OISnvLUwHN60wao2p0xIiDahRDmWAqGbvkrMjmQpEW8C9yt60mygY6DnWzwq6Jw=w298-h400" width="298" /></a></div></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>M-Series Square Menko</b></u> - Possible one of the most popular types of menko are square menko. Their durability, heavy cardboard stock, and great graphics made these popular from the 1940s to 1950s. Yokozuna Kagamisato was menko #8401 in the M522: 1952 Gunbai 4 set. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9mQbcZyt5ZFNk4ZqBuslVMEFeiEX-C-dz0ET6tlCSrQzGhLQllApVanWbs8eRLyA8RUas8lSNwH1ZPFAJKIyNauzRHBnaSiuhRhDNqLFqazydMp1dOexmmf2LMU1Mh1FuCeaFfaQ0AeHva7Mq5hk1IMFKNS5omfp3mrmVmvXRyWlh0CE_2SVaI2Ccuw=s871" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9mQbcZyt5ZFNk4ZqBuslVMEFeiEX-C-dz0ET6tlCSrQzGhLQllApVanWbs8eRLyA8RUas8lSNwH1ZPFAJKIyNauzRHBnaSiuhRhDNqLFqazydMp1dOexmmf2LMU1Mh1FuCeaFfaQ0AeHva7Mq5hk1IMFKNS5omfp3mrmVmvXRyWlh0CE_2SVaI2Ccuw=w216-h400" width="216" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ1WXkS52c__vGaJcId5iJMi1khqsZvtQpgcp0RFJvLHfG6UrPy1R-0GZbAf73IbHNoGhcc8TVtBdqZKvYUbdArmusrbplWvytCF0cARSCcFxErlPUHA4ykkCFD2rdx7dpvCTpg1MmhcF5TrTbLbDfH9Mpdv6SKPZ0Pb_esvmuyVfnvxNw1cPj-Jm_Cw=s871" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ1WXkS52c__vGaJcId5iJMi1khqsZvtQpgcp0RFJvLHfG6UrPy1R-0GZbAf73IbHNoGhcc8TVtBdqZKvYUbdArmusrbplWvytCF0cARSCcFxErlPUHA4ykkCFD2rdx7dpvCTpg1MmhcF5TrTbLbDfH9Mpdv6SKPZ0Pb_esvmuyVfnvxNw1cPj-Jm_Cw=w216-h400" width="216" /></a></div></div><br /><u><b>P-Series Prize Sheet Cards</b></u> - You get a prize and you get a prize...these cards were only issued on prize sheets and were given away to children if they were lucky enough to find a regular card or menko with a prize stamp on the back. A lot of P-Series cards have glue stains on the back from being stuck to prize sheets and then "torn" off once a child picked one he/she liked. This P561: 1956 Prize Sheet card of Maegashira Wakahaguro looks like it was also stuck in a photo album after being won.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrPBsDh2RromVoz1PxZXPvMWwPNnE-bORApfRKKli0HPKMeYC-oNe3wVSdQAARxEtrBSNetL_YArozAV3qLzJD_NzDaQosFGkk_YFxmdx9ymrpdmSypCJcsjECXxOupaoC2MJMQpVcIKLohurpFKQzwzMIGiuNiqtWjFiqA0utlXpPbazWjgb0NHoFfg=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="797" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrPBsDh2RromVoz1PxZXPvMWwPNnE-bORApfRKKli0HPKMeYC-oNe3wVSdQAARxEtrBSNetL_YArozAV3qLzJD_NzDaQosFGkk_YFxmdx9ymrpdmSypCJcsjECXxOupaoC2MJMQpVcIKLohurpFKQzwzMIGiuNiqtWjFiqA0utlXpPbazWjgb0NHoFfg=w289-h400" width="289" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqxAoypXaOGoISEOfjdUkxXLgBuALkn_K9iCNtI1JklMl2OBNWzNRqCAwYxXNToKmXG-WGqqsnAHhyz7tYDX5HxqnDXmQOlbEKgP800C50Y47XDvrqi9HMoLarRXCUSUOHI3JoeWibVvYxtPMtoZEEKGwvEssiWcYQUcSVztG4ngeMMc3CH5VxMZf0Rg=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="797" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqxAoypXaOGoISEOfjdUkxXLgBuALkn_K9iCNtI1JklMl2OBNWzNRqCAwYxXNToKmXG-WGqqsnAHhyz7tYDX5HxqnDXmQOlbEKgP800C50Y47XDvrqi9HMoLarRXCUSUOHI3JoeWibVvYxtPMtoZEEKGwvEssiWcYQUcSVztG4ngeMMc3CH5VxMZf0Rg=w289-h400" width="289" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>PC-Series Postcards</b></u> - Postcards were all the rage in the 1920s and 1930s. They are still some of the most expensive cards out there usually going for over $10/card. Ozeki Kunimiyama would have been a sought after addition from this PC121: 1912 Daikokuya Postcard Set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIYsTHfmNJgeQgxt8jeRvj4xA90hI9YVF0eeHOpNpijJlmEZzJL5xEjSuagOlkabiMk_FRk5gTOLRSeqNd9QjIkhE76Ibml2m8c5YtRXOnAgRyMsZh3dnTIsj7Md5CScmOyfkkUg5tZpmyFrab9UqN3Sh3AJR2GWB1chKsKyuz8C2SFwlOt_p1eHympQ=s1703" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1703" data-original-width="1087" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIYsTHfmNJgeQgxt8jeRvj4xA90hI9YVF0eeHOpNpijJlmEZzJL5xEjSuagOlkabiMk_FRk5gTOLRSeqNd9QjIkhE76Ibml2m8c5YtRXOnAgRyMsZh3dnTIsj7Md5CScmOyfkkUg5tZpmyFrab9UqN3Sh3AJR2GWB1chKsKyuz8C2SFwlOt_p1eHympQ=w254-h400" width="254" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1ieM5M7znOENjI7O_DJtY4DA5BqEtkt49-4HQh1TZGd4F-ta0i6Mekk89fdkWiVY3T4wzbnXDHfKrgkylZz2Z20h53ZNRaHyMii8bUSxOqfUvYUiJhZQubBKljyWSXQ-VPbxk4CupXD3P418LpJDzmZe7FoRC6LNhNad8jdL2YI4thnOborJfJpWBPw=s1703" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1703" data-original-width="1087" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1ieM5M7znOENjI7O_DJtY4DA5BqEtkt49-4HQh1TZGd4F-ta0i6Mekk89fdkWiVY3T4wzbnXDHfKrgkylZz2Z20h53ZNRaHyMii8bUSxOqfUvYUiJhZQubBKljyWSXQ-VPbxk4CupXD3P418LpJDzmZe7FoRC6LNhNad8jdL2YI4thnOborJfJpWBPw=w255-h400" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>R-Series Rikishi Menko</b></u> - Arguably one of the most distinct and fun types of menko to collect. These die-cut menko have distinct shapes, great artwork, and usually contain all the popular rikishi of the era. A lot of people jump on these auctions, especially for the older menko and they rarely pop up anymore. These type of menko were popular from the early 1900s all the way to the 1950s! Komusubi Kasagiyama below was part of the 10-menko R378: 1937 Rikishi Gunbai 5 set.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoZRzDDi1VlpX9fgpLy6CNVGjuTrWlmRiczA_WFCo4ukZVT0lohVWQfdlZMdN88f2Z82zEMdqId2mJkPQQ8wW2CpQ7yu-cV3Ekmn3rD2hvNHUXNovz66ieKSQlfMXAMaB68NeiQfL48zxQoHz-DNkYqZuFUSqRur-xoqktH3GkVVFYB0jdahyLIeyZzg=s753" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="374" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoZRzDDi1VlpX9fgpLy6CNVGjuTrWlmRiczA_WFCo4ukZVT0lohVWQfdlZMdN88f2Z82zEMdqId2mJkPQQ8wW2CpQ7yu-cV3Ekmn3rD2hvNHUXNovz66ieKSQlfMXAMaB68NeiQfL48zxQoHz-DNkYqZuFUSqRur-xoqktH3GkVVFYB0jdahyLIeyZzg=w199-h400" width="199" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigkK9FRAE9a42-_HXrgcAcV6RjmyUK4KKiE1LyzGR1BgV1qF-jfvpT2k9_PgaDS8qqkjmDznVdgAgjc-vohP_PYIRyU8iQje9G4C7FMxgJE7OzJmGZvEaKRLYCexEyfrs9e5oDphE_TFQqPAC4wLYuMpaF2Kqk136Zpl-xEqmCEenOCe6FX9euYvF6yw=s753" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="374" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigkK9FRAE9a42-_HXrgcAcV6RjmyUK4KKiE1LyzGR1BgV1qF-jfvpT2k9_PgaDS8qqkjmDznVdgAgjc-vohP_PYIRyU8iQje9G4C7FMxgJE7OzJmGZvEaKRLYCexEyfrs9e5oDphE_TFQqPAC4wLYuMpaF2Kqk136Zpl-xEqmCEenOCe6FX9euYvF6yw=w199-h400" width="199" /></a></div></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>S-Series Stadium Cards</b></u> - Believe it or not there was a time when there were not TVs in homes and people would have to listen to sumo on the radio or buy a ticket and attend in person. These souvenir cards were popular in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s as people would use them to visualize their favorite wrestler while sitting under the kotatsu listening to the bouts live. Ozeki Shimizugawa from the S362: 1936 Kokugikan Back and White Set would have been one everyone was watching back in the day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZBfmw6RnoLb_nLGLzaejOolcFLr3vaBq4aWOXesIh5HpRQB-oecsZx0vumsFUAJqVNgyzwU_XeOxCbs81yG4DqSUPdih6d4oiBrM3EGSTPqlHpvc9-0wVmQMzx8rUs5dddR635iG-P9ncuKMIsoLWK6j9F9CYJgfX0212uY6GMV46Vol4Be8zRfsiBw=s857" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="569" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZBfmw6RnoLb_nLGLzaejOolcFLr3vaBq4aWOXesIh5HpRQB-oecsZx0vumsFUAJqVNgyzwU_XeOxCbs81yG4DqSUPdih6d4oiBrM3EGSTPqlHpvc9-0wVmQMzx8rUs5dddR635iG-P9ncuKMIsoLWK6j9F9CYJgfX0212uY6GMV46Vol4Be8zRfsiBw=w265-h400" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfeuB8sb0xtLRWFkLMJ2xFz_lWtmibrEsdU9WJMCTSrhtcYBWsSX-_bM9ZRNnt_gz-3UNyRzV8v0VEfzo6PvTlzHJslyo9KGg63w_kzOjwu9ygVA3yF9wgHlxqgsJYvwYLVDj-Q1m1FA6Wj6oZJveNjkP1ot034gCyk9FKkVrv4nUv-a1oRtTWLbqG5Q=s867" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="556" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfeuB8sb0xtLRWFkLMJ2xFz_lWtmibrEsdU9WJMCTSrhtcYBWsSX-_bM9ZRNnt_gz-3UNyRzV8v0VEfzo6PvTlzHJslyo9KGg63w_kzOjwu9ygVA3yF9wgHlxqgsJYvwYLVDj-Q1m1FA6Wj6oZJveNjkP1ot034gCyk9FKkVrv4nUv-a1oRtTWLbqG5Q=w256-h400" width="256" /></a></div></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>Z-Series Magazine Cards</b></u> - If it was issued in a magazine, it is categorized here. Yoshibayama was a popular subject in the 1950s and captured on this card from the Z561: 1956 Zashi Set. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGgGKXwNDBABgAyUbAOXdL83utqia3G8rjqZ0n55Ou6h3NkkedMJbpXAy5nHmqgpvN3a3n9JCxU2B2XKhXG6XzBBw-W19yDgvRFk87HdWm_eNPHFjY72INFvGSiNo1w7USvoNFh1-qreXcg3mUYgFCeC8oMva-ycRQnEHf14EJU5Kz-aZXMBq86NsyEw=s905" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGgGKXwNDBABgAyUbAOXdL83utqia3G8rjqZ0n55Ou6h3NkkedMJbpXAy5nHmqgpvN3a3n9JCxU2B2XKhXG6XzBBw-W19yDgvRFk87HdWm_eNPHFjY72INFvGSiNo1w7USvoNFh1-qreXcg3mUYgFCeC8oMva-ycRQnEHf14EJU5Kz-aZXMBq86NsyEw=w289-h400" width="289" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggNLyLj8LbcqdJeed-hhnrXUYyjlIMrYGMARpIcguoPoOD5E_GlRC5LuEHz-Hd4ya1aAxSfoWH4CBdzaJwJlaPV6P4YFrKnED-ImImK-3H2xU9_ex3YpTlhOr4yMlqngzUKChN2GI-9QcKwB-s6AKVSie8oVWJy3uQtJwxLlGvPIpF0DM7v-EUEHhWpw=s905" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggNLyLj8LbcqdJeed-hhnrXUYyjlIMrYGMARpIcguoPoOD5E_GlRC5LuEHz-Hd4ya1aAxSfoWH4CBdzaJwJlaPV6P4YFrKnED-ImImK-3H2xU9_ex3YpTlhOr4yMlqngzUKChN2GI-9QcKwB-s6AKVSie8oVWJy3uQtJwxLlGvPIpF0DM7v-EUEHhWpw=w289-h400" width="289" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>CT-Series Telephone Cards</b></u> - Telephone Card collecting was all the rage in the 1980s and 1990s and card manufacturers were making money hand over fist. Sumo popularity was almost at an all-time high at this time too so it is only natural that one of the princes of sumo, future Yokozuna Takanohana was included in this CT951: 1995 Wakanohana/Takanohana Kyushu Supporters Association Set. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFe1TLuZfVLQN7buk7gEBca7gbqrRgr0Dsutw56kr0xae_s__RRuEJCgrEa4LeX_PQMf7fpOFeTpkkUMOI9FtGPx1LiOvD0kax8fF5C8DmYdZlsKSENkl2zdzPpQTmCflmhKbkkV7rDC751ofG9pKpB5yXeKTclzg4r-mr3PKzXG631IlcWUdKp564lA=s1037" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="657" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFe1TLuZfVLQN7buk7gEBca7gbqrRgr0Dsutw56kr0xae_s__RRuEJCgrEa4LeX_PQMf7fpOFeTpkkUMOI9FtGPx1LiOvD0kax8fF5C8DmYdZlsKSENkl2zdzPpQTmCflmhKbkkV7rDC751ofG9pKpB5yXeKTclzg4r-mr3PKzXG631IlcWUdKp564lA=w254-h400" width="254" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidF_iqUmpceLMM0egI4ZKLEUAHQWPQWTXsKAOcD9wLJFaszRARkyZMDbkLYeY1S9Kr0YEF9W0KdVrYVMKZTnq7cddTCl92Q-igJ53eBEe3uDE7vUmi0eIu08TCCGPIq3ozS05IZ3_ogFGkf96ER6i_g9Z40nC3hs9IQRUUfIWRLis-ySmrza50L5iSFg=s1050" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="660" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidF_iqUmpceLMM0egI4ZKLEUAHQWPQWTXsKAOcD9wLJFaszRARkyZMDbkLYeY1S9Kr0YEF9W0KdVrYVMKZTnq7cddTCl92Q-igJ53eBEe3uDE7vUmi0eIu08TCCGPIq3ozS05IZ3_ogFGkf96ER6i_g9Z40nC3hs9IQRUUfIWRLis-ySmrza50L5iSFg=w251-h400" width="251" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>1970s & 1980s Cards</b></u> - There were a handful of sumo cards produced in the 1970s and 1980s and lumped together here under this category. Takamiyama was a favorite subject and his Debut Card is featured below in the 1971 Kabaya Leaf set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzrfLmjDCwIkt0TdQ1hkHDesJry8Fj0ILTO2ubf2sg5hbZ5ouAkr5gorcyH72Xn6NLOQzY6JTAL7bmsSkL68sGaa_4xJ35O2MYaf_eeet4Ivcfw3YfMJHN2Fh4DvU1xmh7r9dH7B0suC5cofYUhn_VzPSoilfIKaEezGha0xOah0-JycDZ_mXdPmczMg=s1009" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="715" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzrfLmjDCwIkt0TdQ1hkHDesJry8Fj0ILTO2ubf2sg5hbZ5ouAkr5gorcyH72Xn6NLOQzY6JTAL7bmsSkL68sGaa_4xJ35O2MYaf_eeet4Ivcfw3YfMJHN2Fh4DvU1xmh7r9dH7B0suC5cofYUhn_VzPSoilfIKaEezGha0xOah0-JycDZ_mXdPmczMg=w284-h400" width="284" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS1GbOgE0yshh1tbbhrO5yugMTyNagY48gxu-60te733ZzXL9fhIlqc4ZfnbnZC3TWsPlxkLtgbF3Mk91G7b7S_3B6TRCJ_LPtUIpUvqbhdM01KRIA2ElSz-zlsosS_fwa795w6_K8d3Zi4eE5WlJky1D-s-G9NvbVYCzPUZYq7JKYOptrajGPC01biw=s1026" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS1GbOgE0yshh1tbbhrO5yugMTyNagY48gxu-60te733ZzXL9fhIlqc4ZfnbnZC3TWsPlxkLtgbF3Mk91G7b7S_3B6TRCJ_LPtUIpUvqbhdM01KRIA2ElSz-zlsosS_fwa795w6_K8d3Zi4eE5WlJky1D-s-G9NvbVYCzPUZYq7JKYOptrajGPC01biw=w286-h400" width="286" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>Foreign Cards</b></u> - It sounds weird to say foreign cards in relation to sumo, but there have been a handful of non-Japanese cards that depicted sumo wrestlers like this Yokozuna Taiho from the 2012 Canadian Sportskings Card Set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz2d21IzaLrV8mBl_cj8qZLjJ8QTvDIs5FbYn9qurysOZ-gRbdHXnhLP1dzgKdoJhljy4gQdwv46XKwDhMr1YvL5uNHn-CzVDYZCFnA3quzoIlfZ2JbeNs6BVgSAwwjd81F0IiQJnLIbTAS2Uu_fyEt9MSS4rWOFVpH0BjOYFKa8OtdRTl1RNEnlynDg=s1046" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz2d21IzaLrV8mBl_cj8qZLjJ8QTvDIs5FbYn9qurysOZ-gRbdHXnhLP1dzgKdoJhljy4gQdwv46XKwDhMr1YvL5uNHn-CzVDYZCFnA3quzoIlfZ2JbeNs6BVgSAwwjd81F0IiQJnLIbTAS2Uu_fyEt9MSS4rWOFVpH0BjOYFKa8OtdRTl1RNEnlynDg=w288-h400" width="288" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEZlgiqjfYqava43AZaCoGCVDEFEW1AbzrCs-5ICWLiMfB_OTLlMDuirRgbDvLg5DtcR6JjfbtzL6HeYzFLQyvqD5rHm7WCO_caZWnnbdQipczQMud952FgJYgohlR5hz52PLB5q32_jYaZB2mBs2YB53gCzekAMdVO53vl78SdAHFlhPqBUpzY86Zjg=s1044" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEZlgiqjfYqava43AZaCoGCVDEFEW1AbzrCs-5ICWLiMfB_OTLlMDuirRgbDvLg5DtcR6JjfbtzL6HeYzFLQyvqD5rHm7WCO_caZWnnbdQipczQMud952FgJYgohlR5hz52PLB5q32_jYaZB2mBs2YB53gCzekAMdVO53vl78SdAHFlhPqBUpzY86Zjg=w290-h400" width="290" /></a></div></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>Trump Cards</b></u> - These annual releases starting in 1973 depict the top wrestlers of the time and capture many early cards of many wrestlers. Kitanoumi below was a popular subject in this 1981 release.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNY2onyGB9sq4D0dMh8TfG-1wZYGm_P9HvmvjgHo8KlzI0A8-A7jRDv493b8laU1eVSBjnNRwaAsDkQk3Ykn0Kvqe638m0GdSZDDhWCsWZV5uau3Y5VJ9U-wAiOYRMy_jzvzYRNO4eXBouVHeEgWVxCebG-CQa-EhrIm7-3d1nyeUoDkKlQWm2GUdVPg=s1073" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="708" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNY2onyGB9sq4D0dMh8TfG-1wZYGm_P9HvmvjgHo8KlzI0A8-A7jRDv493b8laU1eVSBjnNRwaAsDkQk3Ykn0Kvqe638m0GdSZDDhWCsWZV5uau3Y5VJ9U-wAiOYRMy_jzvzYRNO4eXBouVHeEgWVxCebG-CQa-EhrIm7-3d1nyeUoDkKlQWm2GUdVPg=w264-h400" width="264" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo2pjdrQ18BRPz9qbRtwi_QSPW5hlqe_fsebh9edKjKv-CP08WgPeM5WxGsQFa0KheZvtQ8AEgNRiu8dQ1c_7VKEVooMC16B7ZySUpk2SgCgHC8d1s06Hui2JTWJSiAsSj5olAJbCA0XvSAHRFY9S20fZ0DOzj_Wx3a5U9v0ip0F-ZONWWJ0Yy_TUNyA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="375" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo2pjdrQ18BRPz9qbRtwi_QSPW5hlqe_fsebh9edKjKv-CP08WgPeM5WxGsQFa0KheZvtQ8AEgNRiu8dQ1c_7VKEVooMC16B7ZySUpk2SgCgHC8d1s06Hui2JTWJSiAsSj5olAJbCA0XvSAHRFY9S20fZ0DOzj_Wx3a5U9v0ip0F-ZONWWJ0Yy_TUNyA=w267-h400" width="267" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>BBM Cards</b></u> - Most modern collectors start their collecting hobby with the BBM set releases. Starting in 1997, BBM sets have released once, twice, or even three times a year and are popular to collect. Ozeki Kaio was among the most famous Ozeki of all time and adorned this 2001 BBM set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj923cQNt_hWDY92abng3GxOUXkJsxoAQkdJm2vWB6IL5gMeqhYFU7GXCEb0qJh3dCPaSEC2fIiwoS2DnxB-CUScIyH5kgytUEe2PZfIFZ5h5TWtTN1v4rqW5CkYWUbVkAL83tePaEk3OkkSRnxNT5UIacOMEDIHpjbhPe5ezX54uVzdLWWrBh528Hg2Q=s1083" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="782" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj923cQNt_hWDY92abng3GxOUXkJsxoAQkdJm2vWB6IL5gMeqhYFU7GXCEb0qJh3dCPaSEC2fIiwoS2DnxB-CUScIyH5kgytUEe2PZfIFZ5h5TWtTN1v4rqW5CkYWUbVkAL83tePaEk3OkkSRnxNT5UIacOMEDIHpjbhPe5ezX54uVzdLWWrBh528Hg2Q=s320" width="231" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFqZEzJiuoJ_CZKz8WWBFhCL8BrNR2ZpX2cpVurlgJj4_b2f9KGxom8PyYAMfGpbVl0IgLTJu0cmRObNdvwrBtmSfaidtbodxTClE6bbaZEY3_EoPKzcDwSL0jJCZrubn-pNA4RuUo9fMyiir16x8cl9Diae1uqUsbP2U4aZbNMAtFOxdbzwzX6smILw=s1083" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="782" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFqZEzJiuoJ_CZKz8WWBFhCL8BrNR2ZpX2cpVurlgJj4_b2f9KGxom8PyYAMfGpbVl0IgLTJu0cmRObNdvwrBtmSfaidtbodxTClE6bbaZEY3_EoPKzcDwSL0jJCZrubn-pNA4RuUo9fMyiir16x8cl9Diae1uqUsbP2U4aZbNMAtFOxdbzwzX6smILw=s320" width="231" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for tuning in and I am hoping to bring some more interesting sumo card and menko information in the future.</div></div></div></div><p></p></div>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-2778159685003370832021-10-24T12:08:00.004-07:002021-10-24T12:08:23.329-07:00YouTube Channel - SumoMenkoMan - All Things Sumo Cards.<p>Sorry it has been almost 8 weeks since I last posted...in reality I've been exploring the new medium of "posting" over on YouTube and learning a bit more on what it takes to produce video content so that has been eating up most of my time. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and a video worth ten thousand words....I'm able to do a bit more with sumo cards over there than just pictures and written words on this end. So for now, still on a bit of a hiatus, but if anyone is interested in the video-related sumo card content my video can been see on the SumoMenkoMan channel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uchp_z3_z2Y/YXWupdDRjmI/AAAAAAAAFOs/VgrnoqOaPgcsimVOCqXMp3Liz3HeeQDQACLcBGAsYHQ/s1134/Heroes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1134" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uchp_z3_z2Y/YXWupdDRjmI/AAAAAAAAFOs/VgrnoqOaPgcsimVOCqXMp3Liz3HeeQDQACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h358/Heroes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jC6TB-cI6AI/YXWu4TSdUoI/AAAAAAAAFOw/g9Mke8Avv2UmtE2I1G2yiW_w3j-_bWQLACLcBGAsYHQ/s751/Musashimaru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="751" height="458" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jC6TB-cI6AI/YXWu4TSdUoI/AAAAAAAAFOw/g9Mke8Avv2UmtE2I1G2yiW_w3j-_bWQLACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h458/Musashimaru.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-29276292612186782072021-08-30T13:30:00.016-07:002021-08-30T13:30:00.186-07:00Telephone Time - Sumo Wrestling - 1995 Kyushu Supporters Association Set<p>Supporters Groups have a long and important history in sumo wrestling. They often supply sumo wrestlers and stables a valuable and needed flow of money to cover costs associated with the sport. Costs for travel, uniforms, food, and supplies quickly add up and are difficult to cover by the stable master or wrestlers alone. These Supporter Groups help keep sumo wrestling running smoothly in exchange for the wrestlers time at various functions, parties and events. This Kyushu Supporters Association set was made in the 1995/1996 timeframe and either sold to members or given away as a commemorative release for contributions or membership. It features the extremely popular brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana who likely received contributions from the Kyushu Supporters Association. Kyushu is the is the third largest island of Japan and home to Fukuoka tournament and this group has it's presence across the island in support of the sport. I have catalogued it as the CT951: 1995 Kyushu Supporters Association set.</p><p>I am a sucker for holographic telephone cards from Japan and this set is no exception. Several holographic cards along with an additional action and posed shot are fitted nicely into this green holder and tucked away in a nice soft tan envelope.</p><p>I hope everyone has a great week and is ready for the upcoming tournament!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGq7BuRe--A/YSrUk64b23I/AAAAAAAAFNU/xiPEzT_VnwENW-bby35p0YpWz3cTcTiBACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TC%2B11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1635" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGq7BuRe--A/YSrUk64b23I/AAAAAAAAFNU/xiPEzT_VnwENW-bby35p0YpWz3cTcTiBACLcBGAsYHQ/w510-h640/TC%2B11.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqlDjWQlvpo/YSrUuqvDh9I/AAAAAAAAFNY/fQ2mwgqwArY7qu9xWMnAwLtGrAgWex0PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TC%2B13.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqlDjWQlvpo/YSrUuqvDh9I/AAAAAAAAFNY/fQ2mwgqwArY7qu9xWMnAwLtGrAgWex0PQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/TC%2B13.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-___6xcTd4sM/YSrUuju1JpI/AAAAAAAAFNc/tszYmvLGHZkfCLUHJNqo4-vjYMhrvix4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TC%2B14.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-___6xcTd4sM/YSrUuju1JpI/AAAAAAAAFNc/tszYmvLGHZkfCLUHJNqo4-vjYMhrvix4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/TC%2B14.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nX8VBfzC2YA/YSrU1H14JCI/AAAAAAAAFNk/DtdRTlzoeksqIGxsAQxtKoizgeqy9RInwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TC%2B12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1584" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nX8VBfzC2YA/YSrU1H14JCI/AAAAAAAAFNk/DtdRTlzoeksqIGxsAQxtKoizgeqy9RInwCLcBGAsYHQ/w496-h640/TC%2B12.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-67893607333329612252021-08-23T13:30:00.008-07:002021-08-23T13:30:00.196-07:00Telephone Time - 1999 Osaka Tournament Souvenir Telephone Cards<p>When I moved to Japan in 1999 telephone cards were still used and I used to to carry numerous ones around with me in case I needed to make calls while I was out and about. By the time I left in 2001 cell phones had hit the scene and were all the rage pretty much phasing out phone booths and pay phones. But in 1999, people were still collecting phone cards like this sumo set I came across recently. It's an interesting set with some heavy hitters (pun intended). Yokozuna Wakanohana (the other half of the famous Hanada Brothers), Ozeki Chiyotaikai, and Maegashira Terao are the ones I have come across so far. Interestingly, these came in the little paper/plastic purple holders to protect your "investment" which the owner did until I rescued them and catalogued them here and in my book. I love telephone cards and I'll certainly pick any up I can for the right price. Imagine a world without cell phones like we lived in 20 years ago...</p><p>Have a great week!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JY_UtRm1Bgk/YSLefAF2DSI/AAAAAAAAFM4/q6KxphASMcApUVEGLDcGbkm5p2U_mCVhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TC%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="2048" height="548" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JY_UtRm1Bgk/YSLefAF2DSI/AAAAAAAAFM4/q6KxphASMcApUVEGLDcGbkm5p2U_mCVhwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h548/TC%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teLXJdXn_u8/YSLei9efM0I/AAAAAAAAFM8/0YyvNJSdQgsoXPCAN-LAaFm8VNVBBWh-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TC%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="2048" height="554" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teLXJdXn_u8/YSLei9efM0I/AAAAAAAAFM8/0YyvNJSdQgsoXPCAN-LAaFm8VNVBBWh-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h554/TC%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc9cVMxdYps/YSLem5kjuDI/AAAAAAAAFNA/aMmnwYUHcOUaC12rChMcEChzKZndzJg5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TC%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="2048" height="554" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc9cVMxdYps/YSLem5kjuDI/AAAAAAAAFNA/aMmnwYUHcOUaC12rChMcEChzKZndzJg5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h554/TC%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-72048421963812921782021-08-04T13:00:00.027-07:002021-08-04T13:00:00.188-07:00My 2021 National Recap<p>What a weekend spent in Chicago at The 2021 National. One of my bucket list items for quite a while...I was actually on my way to The National 10 years ago when a family emergency forced me to turn around and miss the event. Didn't miss it this time and had a great and amazing experience. There are dozens and dozens of other collector reports of The National and I thought I'd also post my thoughts here of my Saturday and Sunday experience.</p><p>1. The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center is huge. It took my brother and I 12 hours to walk and look at every single booth while stopping at about 10-20% of them to look through boxes. If I was to do it again 3 days would have been perfect. We walked 9 miles around the convention floor weaving in and out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tm9k_MOyTkM/YQn5IQ4PqNI/AAAAAAAAFLc/Iyr7gAGFqi8IiPfd54-uuhNE9_nOTcx_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NSCC4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tm9k_MOyTkM/YQn5IQ4PqNI/AAAAAAAAFLc/Iyr7gAGFqi8IiPfd54-uuhNE9_nOTcx_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/NSCC4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>2. The modern-card hobby is in a boom right now for sure as there were a ton of people. I can't help think the modern cards market is going to collapse in on itself soon with the prices being thrown around.</p><p>3. There is plenty of vintage at The National...don't let the modern-card YouTubers lead you to believe otherwise.</p><p>4. 1986-1987 Fleer Jordan rookie cards are not rare, however, they are rare in the PSA 9 and PSA 10. I could have walked away with 2-3 dozen graded examples PSA8 and below.</p><p>5. Likewise, 1951 Bowman Mantle and Mays rookie cards are not rare either. Surprising how many The National brings out of the woodworks.</p><p>6. After plenty of research, we ate a big breakfast and brought sandwiches and power bars for lunch and snacks so we didn't have to wait in line and pay the crazy vendor prices. People always seem to be complaining, but with a little preparation we were just fine and saved all that time. They did need more tables and chairs around the perimeters though.</p><p>7. I have a good sense of smell and I didn't smell nasty BO until the last day with one of the venders. Thanks to all the collectors out there for showering.</p><p>8. Absolutely bring good shoes. My hip flexors were really sore after two days of shuffling on the concrete floor and bending over looking at cases.</p><p>9. The aisleways did get crowded and I did run in a fellow sumo card collector so I was probably guilty of clogging the aisles. The convention center needs about 15% more space to spread out and give people a bit more room to maneuver in the aisles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P35m-cFSBHM/YQn5xcn8V2I/AAAAAAAAFLk/gc9qZva6RlYnuD1wMTMhOv63WhPo1LsoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2560/NSCC5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="2560" height="302" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P35m-cFSBHM/YQn5xcn8V2I/AAAAAAAAFLk/gc9qZva6RlYnuD1wMTMhOv63WhPo1LsoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h302/NSCC5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>10. People were really polite as well as the dealers. I didn't have one negative interaction!</p><p>11. I asked about 6 dealers and they all said they had an amazing show as far as sales. Money was flying around no doubt.</p><p>12. The modern-card YouTubers were out and about, but I very rarely saw them...I only saw their videos afterwards.</p><p>13. People say there were a bunch of kids there and they definitely were, but this hobby and industry really isn't for them anymore.</p><p>14. People carrying lock boxes around with tens of thousands of dollars in slabbed cards is a site to behold. When it is a 10-year old kid it makes me sad though.</p><p>15. There is plenty of stuff to do: autographs, memorabilia, box breaking, card shopping, dime boxes, dollar boxes, corporate booth festivities. There is not a shortage of fun.</p><p>16. There were good deals abound, but you had to search. I was surprised how much inventory was still sitting around at the end of the show leading me to believe the prices were a bit high for most buyers.</p><p>17. Beer at The National. A brilliant idea designed to pry more dollars out of people's hands.</p><p>18. NASCAR card collecting is dead at the moment. I saw maybe one or two booths with unopened, but no one was selling any singles. Soccer, Wrestling, MMA, and F1 have all overtaken NASCAR at this point. Again it's pretty sad to see how far NASCAR has fallen.</p><p>19. I'm not sure we'd do the VIP Passes again. Unless you are going to be there all 5 days, it really wasn't worth the price for what we did.</p><p>20. I bought 5 items there...yes only 5 items:</p><p><span> a) An unopened taba pack of late 1950 sumo bromide cards!</span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y74JvcBGwRc/YQn7zEjpfnI/AAAAAAAAFLs/d4fhMw8hff87IjCuSURdbBcp4M4cwsLTACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NSCC1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y74JvcBGwRc/YQn7zEjpfnI/AAAAAAAAFLs/d4fhMw8hff87IjCuSURdbBcp4M4cwsLTACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h470/NSCC1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p><span><span> b) A box of 1987 Donruss to rip back at the hotel and relive my youth!</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span> c) A 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan Learning Series Card</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Br0mJU6oXyY/YQn74hXDfhI/AAAAAAAAFLw/SkSt7YRu_NQfC3-WI6z-OU7gOyHFUB4VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1087/Nolan%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="785" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Br0mJU6oXyY/YQn74hXDfhI/AAAAAAAAFLw/SkSt7YRu_NQfC3-WI6z-OU7gOyHFUB4VgCLcBGAsYHQ/w462-h640/Nolan%2B1.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p><span><span><span><span> d) A SGC 7.5 2018 Topps Chrome Ohtani - I wanted to own an SGC slab to have in my collection, but didn't want to spend a ton of money so I rescued this one.</span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlPxC4rrJeg/YQn8pID86-I/AAAAAAAAFME/mpOYPI6uXqEQfUBiXFdryZUBSf_wBKkZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NSCC38.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1298" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlPxC4rrJeg/YQn8pID86-I/AAAAAAAAFME/mpOYPI6uXqEQfUBiXFdryZUBSf_wBKkZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w406-h640/NSCC38.JPG" width="406" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p><span> e) A full set of 1991 Kicks American Taekwondo Association Cards </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSxAPAn41vM/YQn7-tYUTHI/AAAAAAAAFL0/fMHyJISmfkoyAdgMXLMZEr-DoGMCeCAXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NSCC3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1725" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSxAPAn41vM/YQn7-tYUTHI/AAAAAAAAFL0/fMHyJISmfkoyAdgMXLMZEr-DoGMCeCAXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w540-h640/NSCC3.JPG" width="540" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, there you have it. Would I go to The 2022 National in Atlantic City? You bet!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-31306089631434088212021-07-27T14:00:00.000-07:002021-07-27T14:00:00.183-07:00Bigger is better---Oversized 1938 Japanese Sumo Menko<p>Large <i>menko</i> are cool....not only because of their large size, but because you very rarely see them. When you hold one you know you are holding something special because it took a small miracle for it to survive. It had to survive wars, moms cleaning out rooms, storage in small Japanese homes, and ruthless <i>menko </i>battles. So when I ran across this "large" set, I knew I needed to hold them, checklist them, and catalogue them. They are pretty cool, not doubt, and the photographs and print quality are second to none for the era. These R3811: 1938 Rikishi Large 7-8 <i>menko</i> measure about 2" x 4.5" and are a sight to behold. What about you, do you like to collect large, "oversized" cards or are they a pain?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx65tIr-Hf4/YNKYjag2QZI/AAAAAAAAFC8/GB5Q0TvP0CcmmZ2dcwSJaYaUbea-CCUGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/R3811%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1546" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx65tIr-Hf4/YNKYjag2QZI/AAAAAAAAFC8/GB5Q0TvP0CcmmZ2dcwSJaYaUbea-CCUGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w484-h640/R3811%2B1.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTjYBW70CC4/YNKYjegYICI/AAAAAAAAFC4/I7HJrWj1SzsaMAPRkNy_zs50BihzXU6ggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/R3811%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1548" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTjYBW70CC4/YNKYjegYICI/AAAAAAAAFC4/I7HJrWj1SzsaMAPRkNy_zs50BihzXU6ggCLcBGAsYHQ/w484-h640/R3811%2B2.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><p>Have a great week everyone and <i>sayonara</i>!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-87151503453147016622021-07-22T13:00:00.002-07:002021-07-22T13:00:00.171-07:00Caricatures are fun...especially with sumo wrestlers!<p>Caricatures are always good time at fairs and carnivals. I am always amazed by how quickly and relatively accurately artists are able to develop and draw these out for patrons. I am not artistic so I always applaud and admire people who are. Did you know some of the earliest caricatures were done by Leonardo da Vinci? Makes sense since he was such a brilliant engineer and really used the right side of his brain to the betterment of a whole generation of artists, engineers, scientists, and craftsman. Anyway, I digress....we are talking caricatures because of this set as it is almost truly unique in the world of sumo. Normally, many sumo <i>menko </i>are drawn to approximate a <i>rikishi's </i>face, but this set does have the appearance of overexaggeration. Before cameras and photographic reproduction were main stream on sumo <i>menko</i>, there must have been a small army of artists cranking out material. I don't think this set was meant to be humorous or funny, but 84 years later it does bring a smile to my face. Catalogued as the R3713: 1937 Caricature 4 set, these are fairly large at 1.5" x 3". </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoNIdBdMvBI/YM_RicedTgI/AAAAAAAAFBg/C2YEBjqqkj8JIpi5MZNSjdW_EE5SK3DwACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/R3713%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1767" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoNIdBdMvBI/YM_RicedTgI/AAAAAAAAFBg/C2YEBjqqkj8JIpi5MZNSjdW_EE5SK3DwACLcBGAsYHQ/w552-h640/R3713%2B1.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGOFj6reCQ0/YM_RibdUWiI/AAAAAAAAFBk/7TdwYrWmdqw_r4d54FQlntgNNKCsErU2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/R3713%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1776" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGOFj6reCQ0/YM_RibdUWiI/AAAAAAAAFBk/7TdwYrWmdqw_r4d54FQlntgNNKCsErU2wCLcBGAsYHQ/w556-h640/R3713%2B2.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><br /><p>Have an awesome week and <i>sayonara</i>!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-20376457270102958632021-07-16T14:00:00.002-07:002021-07-27T08:02:48.691-07:00Pop Quiz Hotshot - 1941 Japanese Quiz Menko<p>Anyone remember what movie the quote "Pop Quiz Hotshot" is from? If not, I have the answer at the bottom of this post. I love quizzes and trivia and was the kid who wanted to play Trivial Pursuit growing up. Not that I was particularly good at all the categories, but I found it fascinating to learn new things about the world.</p><p>In 1941, this <i>menko</i> set was printed to test kid's on their knowledge of one of the 82 different winning moves (<i>kimarite</i>) in sumo. A drawing on front depicted one of the winning moves and inside a circle on the front asked which move it was...there were small clues in the question asking which throw, or which trip, or which push was used. Then on the back the kids would discover the answer.....simple idea really and well executed on this set. I was able to pick more of this set up since I <a href="https://sumocards.blogspot.com/2019/07/who-felt-earthquake.html" target="_blank">reported on it almost 2 years ago.</a></p><p>I have catalogued this set as the M416: 1941 Circle Quiz 5 set and each <i>menko</i> measures approximately 1 3/8" x 2 7/8".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUsQwduMvp8/YM9-g8IN2BI/AAAAAAAAFAk/rtkEt1vUdZggfqh2WVz19dCsq51ptqFWACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/M416%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1738" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUsQwduMvp8/YM9-g8IN2BI/AAAAAAAAFAk/rtkEt1vUdZggfqh2WVz19dCsq51ptqFWACLcBGAsYHQ/w544-h640/M416%2B1.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjzFGYPIBLM/YM9-kudB0WI/AAAAAAAAFAo/a2q864JPEDwVFhhiKjkUE1Z_hVK6he3vACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/M416%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1750" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjzFGYPIBLM/YM9-kudB0WI/AAAAAAAAFAo/a2q864JPEDwVFhhiKjkUE1Z_hVK6he3vACLcBGAsYHQ/w546-h640/M416%2B2.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you are wondering what moving the first quote was from, if you guessed "Speed" then you are correct! Here is a short clip featuring this famous movie quote:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ug2hLQv6WeY" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ug2hLQv6WeY"></iframe></div><br /><div>Have a great week and <i>sayonara</i>!</div>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-31400860384676138742021-07-13T05:00:00.001-07:002021-07-13T05:00:00.176-07:00Cold War Era - 1956 Japanese Military Menko<p>The Cold War in the 1950s must have been as stressful time as any to be alive given that nuclear weapons were now a real possibility and that at any time World War 3 could have ended the world as we know it. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed to get us out of it, but I am sure it has left a lifelong impression on many citizens all over the world. Japan was not immune from the Cold War and were caught in the political crossfire of Russia, China, Korea, and United States. Having no offensive capability of their own, Japan relied heavily on the United States for protection and the weapons we employed during that time we fused into the lives of many children. <i>Menko </i>companies took advantage of that fascination and made this set in 1956 that highlighted the popular rikishi of the era as well as some of the weapons children had no doubt read about or seen in books.</p><p>This M5623: 1956 Military 10 set is extremely hard to find...I am not sure why as most 1950s <i>menko </i>sets were made in decent quantities. Maybe the war theme was too much for the general population at the time. I have only seen these 6 <i>menko </i>in my over 20 years of collecting making them Extremely Rare. Each <i>menko </i>measures approximately 1 3/8" x 2 3/4".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttp5HeWvsjY/YM-MCQ5DP4I/AAAAAAAAFA4/_FWJVD5r_XMkuUKsF6rQ4PGhsAv7ntykACLcBGAsYHQ/s1790/M5623%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="1426" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttp5HeWvsjY/YM-MCQ5DP4I/AAAAAAAAFA4/_FWJVD5r_XMkuUKsF6rQ4PGhsAv7ntykACLcBGAsYHQ/w510-h640/M5623%2B1.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XyZl5RK3Sc/YM-MCVRBMUI/AAAAAAAAFA0/w0iXQieqin8tgTP9xRjfvj7tWd3q0L2swCLcBGAsYHQ/s1771/M5623%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="1389" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XyZl5RK3Sc/YM-MCVRBMUI/AAAAAAAAFA0/w0iXQieqin8tgTP9xRjfvj7tWd3q0L2swCLcBGAsYHQ/w502-h640/M5623%2B2.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><p>Have a great weekend and <i>sayonara</i>!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-7826889386111144282021-07-09T13:00:00.003-07:002021-07-27T08:04:29.426-07:00Paint it Purple - 1938 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Menko Set<p>Purple as a color is just awesome! I guess anyone could say that about any color, but there is something about purple that screams elegance and luxury. Did you know that purple is associated with the Japanese emperor and Japanese aristocracy? And in England it is used only on special occasions with the Royal Family. Crazy...anyway, purple came up as I was cataloguing this new set...the R389: 1938 Rikishi 4 set. The fronts are a high quality picture and the backs are printed, well, in purple. Not a deep shade of purple, but a good looking one nonetheless. This set is extremely hard to find and I uncovered 9 <i>menko </i>from the set during the pandemic and am finally able to document it here and in my book. These could be the only 9 in existence at this point. These <i>menko </i>are relatively small at 1" x 2 1/8", but they make up for it as real stunners. The backs originally had a piece of paper glued to it in order to stand them up I reckon to play <i>kamizumo</i>, but not sure.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FulsDHvcNc4/YM_IvnoGMWI/AAAAAAAAFBU/I1E1FEnuMBc8n1ywdoTuCeJAFMFfH-qNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/R3899%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="1824" height="510" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FulsDHvcNc4/YM_IvnoGMWI/AAAAAAAAFBU/I1E1FEnuMBc8n1ywdoTuCeJAFMFfH-qNQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h510/R3899%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urVxRSzQmSA/YM_IvkEm5NI/AAAAAAAAFBY/49BQCFDw2U0PpFZ2J8upAKxpdHXtSBPkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1917/R3899%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1917" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urVxRSzQmSA/YM_IvkEm5NI/AAAAAAAAFBY/49BQCFDw2U0PpFZ2J8upAKxpdHXtSBPkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h484/R3899%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Have an awesome weekend!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-22699737858545084502021-07-06T14:00:00.018-07:002021-07-06T14:00:00.167-07:00Pre-War Japanese Sumo Menko...I mean pre-WWI!<p>I don't often use the word "Museum Quality" when it comes to sumo <i>menko</i>. However, the early 1900 woodblock prints that were coming out of Japan at the time are nothing short of remarkable. There are different qualities of woodprinters no doubt, and the artists that were making <i>menko </i>at the time were likely not skilled enough to compete with many of the heavy hitting artists. Nonetheless, the quality and intricacies they devoted to the woodblock <i>menko </i>of the time was tremendous. The woodblock set below is the R051: 1905 Priest, Gun, Fox Back 0. Maybe more importantly than it's 116 years in existence, is the fact that it has two extremely, extremely rare <i>menko </i>of Osaka Yokozuna Okido and Wakashima. At the time, there were two factions of sumo both in Tokyo and Osaka. The one is Osaka struggled and eventually folded into the Tokyo Association, but for a brief time talented <i>rikishi </i>were<i> </i>competing there. They don't nearly get the love and most artists seemed to have associated in Tokyo more so not many <i>menko </i>were produced of the Osaka <i>rikishi</i>. These <i>menko</i> are printed on thin cardboard-like paper and are about 1" x 1 3/4". Someday these will be in a museum!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86_kWsrBVg8/YM-sAVPWU6I/AAAAAAAAFBE/Vim7JFsFocQjLnShrMvvbwOdqX3AF5OMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1936/R051%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1815" data-original-width="1936" height="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86_kWsrBVg8/YM-sAVPWU6I/AAAAAAAAFBE/Vim7JFsFocQjLnShrMvvbwOdqX3AF5OMQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h600/R051%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SqY0dpLpGnE/YM-sAan3B1I/AAAAAAAAFBI/86mHIalzfBsH_OE-iho4oKUjIfNd4hrOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1941/R051%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="1941" height="592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SqY0dpLpGnE/YM-sAan3B1I/AAAAAAAAFBI/86mHIalzfBsH_OE-iho4oKUjIfNd4hrOgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h592/R051%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I hope everyone came back same from the holiday and has a great week. Sayonara!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-73398819975757654782021-07-01T12:00:00.022-07:002021-07-01T12:00:00.194-07:002021 Mid-Year Report Card<p>Well, with the year half over I thought I would do a quick review of where I stand on my <a href="https://sumocards.blogspot.com/2021/01/2021-hobby-goals.html" target="_blank">2021 Collecting Goals.</a> Not going to lie, this has been a tough year with work and COVID-19. Oddly, my time to even blog has been drastically reduced due to inefficiencies of teleworking and having to spend more time "at work" to make up for the time lost trying to coordinate everything virtually.</p><br />I know there are a fair amount of collectors that don't like to do collecting goals...However, I'm one that likes to lay out the year to help me focus and to generally guide my collecting habits. I seldom vary from my larger collection so I don't have a ton or random collections that are half-started...just expanding my normal collections and then maybe tackle one or two more. Anyway, let's see how I am doing.<br /><br /><p><strong><em><u>Goal #1: Blog 60 posts this year! - (26 as of this post) - Current Grade - "C"</u></em></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtJBqPC8SFQ/X-5MrRpBpNI/AAAAAAAAEt8/3OV_H57Ruro17bGz3U8rx3igpUJDYhKYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtJBqPC8SFQ/X-5MrRpBpNI/AAAAAAAAEt8/3OV_H57Ruro17bGz3U8rx3igpUJDYhKYgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This goal has been a little rough these past few months, but I feel like I should be able to catch up and get in a rhythm as things have quieted down at work some. I think I stand a good chance of getting to 60 and maybe a few more as I have a stack of blogging material waiting....really it is stuff to catalogue for my book and some eye candy for the blog.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><strong><em><u>Goal #2: Publish the 5th Edition of the Sumo Menko and Card Checklist. - Current Grade - "C"</u></em></strong></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W7gphDqEwdw/X-5PzZUkeTI/AAAAAAAAEuI/SSG9a-0eczcndapwWsz3IH1m8Rg6c_5EwCLcBGAsYHQ/s955/Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="725" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W7gphDqEwdw/X-5PzZUkeTI/AAAAAAAAEuI/SSG9a-0eczcndapwWsz3IH1m8Rg6c_5EwCLcBGAsYHQ/w486-h640/Cover.jpg" width="486" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I am making some good progress on the 5th Edition and really do think I can get it finally published and out the door. Work should slow down for me later this year for a little bit and if I can get 2-3 hours a week devoted to this goal I should easily crush this. We'll see how the next few months goes though.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><strong><em><u>Goal #3: Get to the halfway point with my 1973 Calbee set - Current Grade - "D"</u></em></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5FJ_lfHfiQ/X-5TQ9LIrhI/AAAAAAAAEuU/3xO57urKiIsPXjMFyWzSchBt2Dqswj3AACLcBGAsYHQ/s2314/Calbee%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="2314" height="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5FJ_lfHfiQ/X-5TQ9LIrhI/AAAAAAAAEuU/3xO57urKiIsPXjMFyWzSchBt2Dqswj3AACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h294/Calbee%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Ugh, I have not focused on the Calbee cards too much this year so far. Prices for the high-numbers are expensive and I have focused my efforts on the other goals thus far. I think I can pick up 3-4 more and really get back on track to 50% completion by the end of the year. It all takes money and that would solve a lot of my problems here. Ha!<br /> </div><div><strong><em><u><br /></u></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><u>Goal #4: Relabel my Binders/Sets and Pass Along Excess "Stuff" - Current Grade - "C"</u></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnhy_-Hm5y0/X-5VudAdkeI/AAAAAAAAEug/znuedqN4gKArkRmuoitHnB1NlpbYCl_CQCLcBGAsYHQ/s344/EMI-TURN3-1_s7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="344" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnhy_-Hm5y0/X-5VudAdkeI/AAAAAAAAEug/znuedqN4gKArkRmuoitHnB1NlpbYCl_CQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/EMI-TURN3-1_s7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm getting there are relabeling binders and tidying up...it seems like it is a never ending process. I seem to clean up two piles and another one appears. I am getting a small stack of cards and menko ready for eBay too which will be great to put a bit of extra money in my pocket!</div><div><br /></div><div><strong><em><u>Goal #5: Expand my 1980s/1990s Japanese Telephone Card Collection - Current Grade - "B"</u></em></strong></div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8RUbPAJFeg/X-5Y9-T7qfI/AAAAAAAAEu0/zY6YqNaqT34l3ALYJmGx5q9OSq3fznH0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s530/Teleca%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="530" height="406" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8RUbPAJFeg/X-5Y9-T7qfI/AAAAAAAAEu0/zY6YqNaqT34l3ALYJmGx5q9OSq3fznH0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h406/Teleca%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This goal is part of my alt-collection and something fun as I am browsing for sumo auctions. I have picked up a decent amount of telephone cards so far and am waiting for them arrive from Japan shortly.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong><em><u>Goal #6: Do Something with my Yukata Card/Bolt Collection - Current Grade - "F"</u></em></strong></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGKgLp0s9Ds/X-5fe39gaII/AAAAAAAAEvM/pMydzSchF6Q2KJIyEeJNirmfBhcRuoD4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s638/yukata%2B7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="470" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGKgLp0s9Ds/X-5fe39gaII/AAAAAAAAEvM/pMydzSchF6Q2KJIyEeJNirmfBhcRuoD4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w472-h640/yukata%2B7.jpg" width="472" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suElCJR4S-E/X-5fbOEb94I/AAAAAAAAEvI/efhibM36QjU3pkZPo3hekQoV-RUeOJsfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s638/yukata%2B9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="479" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suElCJR4S-E/X-5fbOEb94I/AAAAAAAAEvI/efhibM36QjU3pkZPo3hekQoV-RUeOJsfgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/yukata%2B9.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still have no idea what I am going to do with these......but they are cool!</div><br /><div><strong><em><u>Goal #7: Continue Giving my Non-Sumo Collections Some Love - Currrent Grade - "C"</u></em></strong></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Amada Nintendo (NES)/Famicon Mini Cards</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzsHrf6R5rs/X-5kn-ZvokI/AAAAAAAAEvo/jqTCMf1qdUMpa81G0PMSjZId4Bzsm1NuACLcBGAsYHQ/s2072/famicon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2072" data-original-width="869" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzsHrf6R5rs/X-5kn-ZvokI/AAAAAAAAEvo/jqTCMf1qdUMpa81G0PMSjZId4Bzsm1NuACLcBGAsYHQ/w268-h640/famicon.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">No real progress here.....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>1983 Myojo Noodle Mechanical (Meca) Cards</u></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTZWC7Oby00/X-5nYDRmXMI/AAAAAAAAEv0/BkonJSUnl84F7JlBs4s20m4SeVxM1nFQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Meka%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2027" data-original-width="2048" height="634" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTZWC7Oby00/X-5nYDRmXMI/AAAAAAAAEv0/BkonJSUnl84F7JlBs4s20m4SeVxM1nFQgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h634/Meka%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have picked up a crap ton of these cards and lost count how many new ones I now have. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>2014-2020 Airport Trading Cards</u></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hrD6KDb1KX4/X-5qUK8kqaI/AAAAAAAAEwA/C2ETqkdV5_AgrlrL1sTIC2k-9ttagqT2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/APTC%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1556" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hrD6KDb1KX4/X-5qUK8kqaI/AAAAAAAAEwA/C2ETqkdV5_AgrlrL1sTIC2k-9ttagqT2ACLcBGAsYHQ/w486-h640/APTC%2B1.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div>Still haven't found one of the "Dirty Five" yet. Although I missed out on one recently as if flew under the radar before I saw it.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>1974 Japanese Yamakatsu Bruce Lee "The Way of the Dragon"</u></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G_fokqu2Ig/X-5soAOrVoI/AAAAAAAAEwM/CxpEY7aSp90WwEfLQ8Th72t7EIWnQK8uwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1711/Lee%2BNorris%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1711" height="560" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G_fokqu2Ig/X-5soAOrVoI/AAAAAAAAEwM/CxpEY7aSp90WwEfLQ8Th72t7EIWnQK8uwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h560/Lee%2BNorris%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>No joy here....<br /><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>Radio Shack Zip Zap Cards</u></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akcTuhi-w9o/X-5vBM2LdTI/AAAAAAAAEwY/q3gQCB1dMzcPwSY868UUU5cwkuuUYmxVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2227/Zip%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="2227" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akcTuhi-w9o/X-5vBM2LdTI/AAAAAAAAEwY/q3gQCB1dMzcPwSY868UUU5cwkuuUYmxVwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h240/Zip%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>I have managed to get a few more of these....not too shabby.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>Brandon Laird and Yuta Tabuse Cards</u></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZpm0gDdMXU/X-6AGXlEOGI/AAAAAAAAEwk/BCB9qwtzDIA9l90PNhEboUS8dAYlNK8bACLcBGAsYHQ/s1771/BL%2B6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="1305" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZpm0gDdMXU/X-6AGXlEOGI/AAAAAAAAEwk/BCB9qwtzDIA9l90PNhEboUS8dAYlNK8bACLcBGAsYHQ/w472-h640/BL%2B6.JPG" width="472" /></a></div>Not really making any progress here as new cards rarely pop up that I need. <br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><em><u>Goal #8: Get out at least 1 Care Package a month - Current Grade - "F"</u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ij0_yXdElY/X-6Cb0AVkNI/AAAAAAAAEww/Aa6WmV30e_8bnfpGDeu0CDLhJBfmu6VigCLcBGAsYHQ/s848/hospital-care-package.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="848" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ij0_yXdElY/X-6Cb0AVkNI/AAAAAAAAEww/Aa6WmV30e_8bnfpGDeu0CDLhJBfmu6VigCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/hospital-care-package.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ummm, I suck...sorry everyone!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><strong><em><u>Goal #9: Get to The National! - Current Grade - "A+"</u></em></strong></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QX_XG0qEpeo/X-6DnNaIJaI/AAAAAAAAEw8/4QF-N3QwicMQfDGzGSAUV7lOHi_CAqPYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s3162/National.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="3162" height="202" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QX_XG0qEpeo/X-6DnNaIJaI/AAAAAAAAEw8/4QF-N3QwicMQfDGzGSAUV7lOHi_CAqPYgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h202/National.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>VIP tickets purchased, plane tickets in hand, and hotel booked. Here we go!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><strong><em><u>Goal #10: Maintain/Improve Google/Yahoo/Bing Search Engine results for Sumo Card(s) & Menko</u></em></strong></div><div><b><i><u>- Current Grade - "A+"</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Sumo Card: Bing #1, Google #2, Yahoo #1</div><div>Sumo Cards: Bing #1, Google #2, Yahoo #1</div><div>Sumo Menko: #1, Google #1, Yahoo #1</div><div>Sumo Wrestling Card: Bing #3, Google #3, Yahoo #3</div><div>Sumo Wrestling Cards: Bing #2, Google #2, Yahoo #2</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OldfYSJRiM4/X-6FLIrE_lI/AAAAAAAAExQ/fgJPhwP47fkZj_TXAzbKUr4M2NBZdFYSACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/bing-512%2B%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OldfYSJRiM4/X-6FLIrE_lI/AAAAAAAAExQ/fgJPhwP47fkZj_TXAzbKUr4M2NBZdFYSACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/bing-512%2B%25281%2529.png" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o39I24dDy4k/X-6FPvCGFbI/AAAAAAAAExY/Zvu2nh-QB6gZ_kYa4kGsgt9a6QgmVXT4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/1024px-Google_Chrome_icon_%25282011%2529_svg%2B%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o39I24dDy4k/X-6FPvCGFbI/AAAAAAAAExY/Zvu2nh-QB6gZ_kYa4kGsgt9a6QgmVXT4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/1024px-Google_Chrome_icon_%25282011%2529_svg%2B%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwDcBHX4RwQ/X-6FlJ2hmgI/AAAAAAAAExo/RezPsQR0YWMRh2348wyVDAV9F8JEwA5OgCLcBGAsYHQ/s191/Yahoo-icon%2B%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="191" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwDcBHX4RwQ/X-6FlJ2hmgI/AAAAAAAAExo/RezPsQR0YWMRh2348wyVDAV9F8JEwA5OgCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h209/Yahoo-icon%2B%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I think I am doing well on this one and hopefully my hiatus these past few months doesn't hurt my metrics.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Thanks for being loyal readers and I hope everyone had a safe 2021 so far and I hope your collection keeps growing.SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-60913708206661573102021-06-28T12:00:00.005-07:002021-07-04T12:44:04.712-07:00Shohei Ohtani - The 2013 Japanese BBM Flagship Series 1 Rookie Card Guide <p>There is nothing hotter than Shohei Ohtani right now in Major League Baseball. He is on fire and looks to make a run for MVP this year....if he keeps this stat trend through the remainder of the year, I am going to call him a shoe in. Believe it or not, Ohtani has been doing this for 8 years now and before he made an impact on the MLB scene in 2018, he was the two-way star of Japan destined for bigger and better things. He has a ton of Japanese cards and a good handful of rookie cards from 2013, but none are more iconic than his 2013 Japanese BBM Flagship Series 1 Rookie #183. Here is a guide to the 11 variations of his important, iconic, and impactful rookie card. I apologize in advance as some of the images are taken from Yahoo Japan Auctions website.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Box</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">This is the box that could land you the Red #183, Red #183 - Silver Signature, Red #183 - Gold Signature, Red #183 - Holofoil Signature Rookies, Red #183 - Red Signature, Red #183 - Blue Signature, and Green #183 - Rookie Parallel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9liz68V0GQ/YNZ_HElpUXI/AAAAAAAAFFY/L58XwHtHtQU-qAKKTPxYE-ZsLj33P05EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/BBM%2B2013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="340" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9liz68V0GQ/YNZ_HElpUXI/AAAAAAAAFFY/L58XwHtHtQU-qAKKTPxYE-ZsLj33P05EgCLcBGAsYHQ/w436-h640/BBM%2B2013.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div><br /></div>___________________________________________________________________________________<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Red #183</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Ohtani's most popular and iconic rookie card.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1DtvJaiuA8/YNZ3t82XDjI/AAAAAAAAFDI/jBu3fV4WBsQ57Pzcujn5OCD_YoW3yJRFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1084/Otani%2BBase%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="776" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1DtvJaiuA8/YNZ3t82XDjI/AAAAAAAAFDI/jBu3fV4WBsQ57Pzcujn5OCD_YoW3yJRFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w286-h400/Otani%2BBase%2BFront.jpg" width="286" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4cRsptgf0xA/YNZ3zNcvuWI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/dmqrt42gviY28ax9Pd5GLAcg_vXCaiQPACLcBGAsYHQ/s1083/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="787" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4cRsptgf0xA/YNZ3zNcvuWI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/dmqrt42gviY28ax9Pd5GLAcg_vXCaiQPACLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div>___________________________________________________________________________________<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Red #183 - Silver Signature</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Affordable silver facsimile signature parallel that is unnumbered. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDhgUvl0f1c/YNZ4OocG3dI/AAAAAAAAFDc/0Ap3K1Gl0B4f8Csse0-PFN4h0DqMKXqjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s604/Otani%2BSilver%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="425" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDhgUvl0f1c/YNZ4OocG3dI/AAAAAAAAFDc/0Ap3K1Gl0B4f8Csse0-PFN4h0DqMKXqjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w281-h400/Otani%2BSilver%2BFront.jpg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMMwY7ggprk/YNZ4TClCCQI/AAAAAAAAFDg/elf7nzE8vF0MiNGM2qn3H3tkdjVEf1YggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1083/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="787" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMMwY7ggprk/YNZ4TClCCQI/AAAAAAAAFDg/elf7nzE8vF0MiNGM2qn3H3tkdjVEf1YggCLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BBase%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2013 BBM Series 1 Red #183 - Gold Signature #ed/100</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Spendy gold facsimile signature parallel numbered to 100. Difficult to find. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in7AzEd-LmU/YNZ4tz4SJgI/AAAAAAAAFDs/TIW5J0ShEMUjf2vOozGffJGyBPAQxRyIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s651/Otani%2BGold%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="464" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in7AzEd-LmU/YNZ4tz4SJgI/AAAAAAAAFDs/TIW5J0ShEMUjf2vOozGffJGyBPAQxRyIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w285-h400/Otani%2BGold%2BFront.jpg" width="285" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ6mwZzdpkI/YNZ4t0o0srI/AAAAAAAAFDo/x2JZedwPcaERzu63oKoiZI-jkey0pM9sACLcBGAsYHQ/s629/Otani%2BGold%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="456" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ6mwZzdpkI/YNZ4t0o0srI/AAAAAAAAFDo/x2JZedwPcaERzu63oKoiZI-jkey0pM9sACLcBGAsYHQ/w290-h400/Otani%2BGold%2BBack.jpg" width="290" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Red #183 - Holofoil Signature #ed/50</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Very difficult to find & expensive hologram foil parallel numbered to only 50. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSk7INHJOIE/YNZ5MzLt2UI/AAAAAAAAFD8/Cfgy1sB5mJIevS0MF-vfyenNNALM5cm9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s647/Otani%2BSparkle%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSk7INHJOIE/YNZ5MzLt2UI/AAAAAAAAFD8/Cfgy1sB5mJIevS0MF-vfyenNNALM5cm9ACLcBGAsYHQ/w289-h400/Otani%2BSparkle%2BFront.jpg" width="289" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Os_JTDcTkd8/YNZ5M-SZgBI/AAAAAAAAFD4/zRdPvtG_RggPwJPVEm6np4wVxRJCF44zwCLcBGAsYHQ/s664/Otani%2BSparkle%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="472" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Os_JTDcTkd8/YNZ5M-SZgBI/AAAAAAAAFD4/zRdPvtG_RggPwJPVEm6np4wVxRJCF44zwCLcBGAsYHQ/w284-h400/Otani%2BSparkle%2BBack.jpg" width="284" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Red #183 - Red Signature #ed/25</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2SOkB0PSyE/YOIO_S0vITI/AAAAAAAAFI0/MgISFoQ6bdYEshm0hee_9vBCFoSDU4QxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s568/Ohtani%2BRed%2BFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="433" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2SOkB0PSyE/YOIO_S0vITI/AAAAAAAAFI0/MgISFoQ6bdYEshm0hee_9vBCFoSDU4QxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w305-h400/Ohtani%2BRed%2BFront.jpg" width="305" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh3wIf6ZXdY/YOIO_R0VkOI/AAAAAAAAFIw/0uvcdnRwxiYypTWGGTCYj5iEJtHPSGIPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s581/Ohtani%2BRed%2BBack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="459" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh3wIf6ZXdY/YOIO_R0VkOI/AAAAAAAAFIw/0uvcdnRwxiYypTWGGTCYj5iEJtHPSGIPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w253-h320/Ohtani%2BRed%2BBack.jpg" width="253" /></a></div></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">___________________________________________________________________________________</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Red #183 - Blue Signature #ed/1</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">No image available.</p><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Green #183 - Rookie Foil Parallel #ed/100</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I have only seen one of these ever show up for auction. Very expensive and numbered to 100. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRNokOW3QXw/YOIPSC-ItpI/AAAAAAAAFJE/laG83JRUuEUljG4QOsCdqKQsvaGHUozRACLcBGAsYHQ/s612/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="438" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRNokOW3QXw/YOIPSC-ItpI/AAAAAAAAFJE/laG83JRUuEUljG4QOsCdqKQsvaGHUozRACLcBGAsYHQ/w286-h400/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BFront.jpg" width="286" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SBr8HWnZaM/YOIPSKGbogI/AAAAAAAAFJA/kdIUdWxlH1Y9LdWTVvuVROyS6SQgyZZYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s619/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BBack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SBr8HWnZaM/YOIPSKGbogI/AAAAAAAAFJA/kdIUdWxlH1Y9LdWTVvuVROyS6SQgyZZYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w294-h400/Otani%2BGreen%2BFoil%2BBack.jpg" width="294" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">__________________________________________________________________________________</span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Green #KP2</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Handed out during a family event at Kamagaya Stadium (Photo courtesy of Ameba)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKG9eJosl3A/YNZ8oYnr8QI/AAAAAAAAFEc/ZmI5ec8McgI23X0yHGnKPd5E_RdNx6oOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Otani%2BGreenFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKG9eJosl3A/YNZ8oYnr8QI/AAAAAAAAFEc/ZmI5ec8McgI23X0yHGnKPd5E_RdNx6oOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w283-h400/Otani%2BGreenFront.jpg" width="283" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3ywfmJ1ifM/YNZ8oVuoP4I/AAAAAAAAFEY/-N3aNbTdcbEJpxrbH5LXXyxWvizqIdCpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1044/Otani%2BGreen%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="724" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3ywfmJ1ifM/YNZ8oVuoP4I/AAAAAAAAFEY/-N3aNbTdcbEJpxrbH5LXXyxWvizqIdCpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w278-h400/Otani%2BGreen%2BBack.jpg" width="278" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Pink #SL07</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Handed out at another stadium event (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBUFVgRQAh0/YNZ9WGpKtWI/AAAAAAAAFEo/NCEMlkxcv5QLOOC40O4zjs9VjV5E6zPhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s636/Otani%2BPink%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="456" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBUFVgRQAh0/YNZ9WGpKtWI/AAAAAAAAFEo/NCEMlkxcv5QLOOC40O4zjs9VjV5E6zPhwCLcBGAsYHQ/w286-h400/Otani%2BPink%2BFront.jpg" width="286" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfSzqwHWuC4/YNZ9WJj5FpI/AAAAAAAAFEs/p7TGm8JA3nMNv4LmvIIz15Qt7Yu4UNd-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s624/Otani%2BPink%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfSzqwHWuC4/YNZ9WJj5FpI/AAAAAAAAFEs/p7TGm8JA3nMNv4LmvIIz15Qt7Yu4UNd-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w295-h400/Otani%2BPink%2BBack.jpg" width="295" /></a></div></div><br /><br />___________________________________________________________________________________<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Purple #183 - Sports Card Magazine (SCM)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Issue #98 of Sports Card Magazine had 5 original promotional cards including this one of Ohtani.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcWG4ou52uE/YNZ-a7RQ7XI/AAAAAAAAFE4/whj03Na4-AYn9IFUz2Oqui_5vOU-l88XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1096/Otani%2BSCM%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="804" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcWG4ou52uE/YNZ-a7RQ7XI/AAAAAAAAFE4/whj03Na4-AYn9IFUz2Oqui_5vOU-l88XwCLcBGAsYHQ/w294-h400/Otani%2BSCM%2BFront.jpg" width="294" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHENYDFSrDs/YNZ-a8L8sCI/AAAAAAAAFE8/R3nMRw_0Z_QXRYmWxeu6A-ZXm_5i_0aJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1089/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="793" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHENYDFSrDs/YNZ-a8L8sCI/AAAAAAAAFE8/R3nMRw_0Z_QXRYmWxeu6A-ZXm_5i_0aJgCLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>___________________________________________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 BBM Series 1 Purple #183 - Sports Card Magazine (SCM) Silver Signature</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Randomly inserted in SCM #98 were silver facsimile signature parallels. (Photo courtesy of YJA)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktawpoYF10w/YNZ-wjrkufI/AAAAAAAAFFM/lVQ-xEgT1xsq12Xqt_GK6QAiccf7m-BKACLcBGAsYHQ/s433/Otani%2BSilver%2BPurple%2BFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="312" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktawpoYF10w/YNZ-wjrkufI/AAAAAAAAFFM/lVQ-xEgT1xsq12Xqt_GK6QAiccf7m-BKACLcBGAsYHQ/w289-h400/Otani%2BSilver%2BPurple%2BFront.jpg" width="289" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Vh3ujO1nFM/YNZ-wv8D21I/AAAAAAAAFFI/MCBh0HXOYWEzdRxXNoKPjw-g8MPMntzdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1089/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="793" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Vh3ujO1nFM/YNZ-wv8D21I/AAAAAAAAFFI/MCBh0HXOYWEzdRxXNoKPjw-g8MPMntzdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w291-h400/Otani%2BSCM%2BBack.jpg" width="291" /></a></div></div><br /><br />___________________________________________________________________________________<div><br /></div><div>There you have it. I hope everyone has a great time watching the All Star Game and Ohtani in the Home Run Derby! Sayonara!<br /><p><br /></p></div>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-59712934687612072182021-06-26T10:02:00.004-07:002021-06-26T10:02:48.771-07:00Hulk Hogan - 1983 Pony Cassette Card - New Find!<p>There are still a lot of unique Japanese sports cards to be found as a lot of them are still unchecklisted and quite rare. Once such card is this new card find of Hulk Hogan from 1983. It is a card that came in a cassette case for what appears to be entrance music for the Hulkster, or Ichiban, as he was known in Japan when he first debuted. It's about the size of a regular trading card and blank backed. Now all I need is a Walkman to listen!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4e5svPZXP8/YNddM8qoPbI/AAAAAAAAFHU/-OW1ZYg4GV04KCEtGV8aHzz8b44yhMLwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1211/Pony%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="772" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4e5svPZXP8/YNddM8qoPbI/AAAAAAAAFHU/-OW1ZYg4GV04KCEtGV8aHzz8b44yhMLwQCLcBGAsYHQ/w408-h640/Pony%2B1.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2HOZo7AB-0k/YNddMoDlY7I/AAAAAAAAFHQ/2khqSSAD9qYo-XO1PyJUgkq04tPvyeC3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1217/Pony%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="766" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2HOZo7AB-0k/YNddMoDlY7I/AAAAAAAAFHQ/2khqSSAD9qYo-XO1PyJUgkq04tPvyeC3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w402-h640/Pony%2B2.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZT8dtA2sb8/YNddNGWKtzI/AAAAAAAAFHY/9Y3ZATISnigmiJwpVaKP19R80OOSn9uowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Pony%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1509" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZT8dtA2sb8/YNddNGWKtzI/AAAAAAAAFHY/9Y3ZATISnigmiJwpVaKP19R80OOSn9uowCLcBGAsYHQ/w472-h640/Pony%2B3.JPG" width="472" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmBmbA1phEk/YNddNfcRh5I/AAAAAAAAFHc/6jFefcIPZ4ACGG7-LiCqExo70pJiB_0jwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Pony%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1209" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmBmbA1phEk/YNddNfcRh5I/AAAAAAAAFHc/6jFefcIPZ4ACGG7-LiCqExo70pJiB_0jwCLcBGAsYHQ/w378-h640/Pony%2B4.JPG" width="378" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hcfh631JeYg/YNddN_g26nI/AAAAAAAAFHo/DPavTtErjAoSQeSGJbxPkpIBXqeH01FOACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Pony%2B8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1756" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hcfh631JeYg/YNddN_g26nI/AAAAAAAAFHo/DPavTtErjAoSQeSGJbxPkpIBXqeH01FOACLcBGAsYHQ/w548-h640/Pony%2B8.JPG" width="548" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cg4WXxu70HQ/YNddNqULoSI/AAAAAAAAFHg/lbhFmX5V1xw5RGRHalCm-J9sFvHOn6ytQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Pony%2B6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1355" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cg4WXxu70HQ/YNddNqULoSI/AAAAAAAAFHg/lbhFmX5V1xw5RGRHalCm-J9sFvHOn6ytQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h424/Pony%2B6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvjSviG85V8/YNddN3CiIHI/AAAAAAAAFHk/gmQOcG8A2Sc5zl8GjGRNWOhDrmi3L7vRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Pony%2B7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="2048" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvjSviG85V8/YNddN3CiIHI/AAAAAAAAFHk/gmQOcG8A2Sc5zl8GjGRNWOhDrmi3L7vRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h414/Pony%2B7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I hope everyone has a great weekend and <i>sayonara</i>!SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-69149474429468819132021-06-24T14:00:00.003-07:002021-06-25T17:36:17.113-07:00Pre-War Japanese Menko! The 1940 Circle Back 5 set does not disappoint!<p>It never ceases to amaze me how many pre-war sets are still out there that weren't destroyed in the war in Japan. I've mentioned several times on this blog that the amount of destruction and devastation, along with paper drives and commodity scacity, would have seemingly wiped out all of the paper products and children's games for the most part. When I uncover sets like this, it makes me realize how important these likely were to families back then and worth keeping. I am glad I am able to document them for history's sake!</p><p>This M405: 1940 Circle Back 5 set looks like it was well loved and used in lots of menko games bringing a smile to some child's face. In terms of design it is fairly standard, but with some great background designs on the front behind the wrestler. When these were newly issued, the colors must have been really vivid! The backs contain the standard birthplace, height, weight, favorite technique and stable information with a dominate circle at the top and 5-digit Fighting Number at the bottom.</p><p>Interestingly, no yokozuna appeared in the auction I won....likely those menko were the most cherished and fell apart many decades ago from hundreds of rounds of menko.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUChbXpVi7E/YM9wfPBxFsI/AAAAAAAAFAU/v_DIN0UrJVkfQiXOhyYbeYdYQ4tpgVyswCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/M405%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="2048" height="506" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUChbXpVi7E/YM9wfPBxFsI/AAAAAAAAFAU/v_DIN0UrJVkfQiXOhyYbeYdYQ4tpgVyswCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h506/M405%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f71CRIO7Cbg/YM9wjUCsmqI/AAAAAAAAFAY/6q4-ycCerdsx98MBDJ7PCNOLHnHAZ208wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/M405%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="2048" height="494" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f71CRIO7Cbg/YM9wjUCsmqI/AAAAAAAAFAY/6q4-ycCerdsx98MBDJ7PCNOLHnHAZ208wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h494/M405%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Thanks for stopping by...I hope everyone has a great weekend and <i>sayonara</i>!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-26642308918295422972021-06-21T14:00:00.023-07:002021-06-22T19:38:11.076-07:00Back at it!<p>Wow, I did not expect to take that much time off of blogging...almost two months. Work just happened to get really crazy with a project we are working on right when a lot of things started opening back up as we all start getting vaccinated. Hence, I have not had a chance to sit in front of my computer much, nor work on many hobbies. Anyway...am hoping to be back blogging once or twice a week.</p><p>I've been clearing out my sets that need checklisted, documented in my book, and then put in binders. This M-Series set has been staring in my face since the pandemic...I purchased it during quarantine and have now just finally got around to documenting it. It's a beauty and the first, and only, time I have seen any menko from this set indicating how rare it is out there. One of the main reasons it is so rare is it was made in the middle of World War II. 1944 in fact. How it survived all these years is a wonder and we'll never know. However, we can now document it as the M441: 1944 Gunbai Math 2-3 set. The drawings of the rikishi are crude, but totally fit in with the austere war conditions in Japan during the time. The backs have an image of the judge's fan, or <i>gunbai</i>, and are printed in a vivid, red ink. Inside this <i>gunbai </i>are the wrestlers names across the top (read from right to left) as well as birthplace, height, weight, favorite technique and stable information in the gunbai. Also common during this time was a math equation and indicates it could have been issued in a children's school magazine. They measure about 1 1/8" x 2 7/8" so a bit on the small side.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuHl_0jXAwI/YM9oDOr9y7I/AAAAAAAAE_8/VYStlainbLEz29nPxYqRj_FqSxzGzeVZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1899/M%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1899" data-original-width="1308" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuHl_0jXAwI/YM9oDOr9y7I/AAAAAAAAE_8/VYStlainbLEz29nPxYqRj_FqSxzGzeVZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w440-h640/M%2B1.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7brcAeutGMI/YM9oKPV03yI/AAAAAAAAFAE/mlZzECBISB0GV68xZH0B3TJsKuRBujoIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1871/M%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1871" data-original-width="1252" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7brcAeutGMI/YM9oKPV03yI/AAAAAAAAFAE/mlZzECBISB0GV68xZH0B3TJsKuRBujoIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w428-h640/M%2B2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div>I hope everyone has a great week! <i>Sayonara</i>!</div>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-91446618293549123522021-04-26T14:00:00.001-07:002021-04-26T14:00:00.202-07:001941 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Menko - M412: 1941 Nagoya Trophy 4<p>It's not often that I can add to the checklists for some older, extremely-rare <i>menko </i>sets. The surge in card popularity has made finding good deals even in Japan harder and harder. However, I was able to recently pick up an 8-<i>menko</i>, uncut sheet of the extremely rare 1941 Nagoya Trophy 4 set. I was able to basically triple the checklist and catalogue some important sumo names, but what is more important is I am now able to see what an actual uncut sheet looks like...and it is a different one for sure. The four middle cards are flipped from the 4 outer cards making for a unique display...I have never seen this before on sumo menko. What I really like about this set are the vivid colors and quality of the artistic renditions of the <i>rikishi's </i>likeness. A good quality set for the ages and I am happy to now have the checklist as follows:</p><p>9612 - Maegashira Fujigatake</p><p>9024 - Maegashira Tamanoumi</p><p>7897 - Maegashira Ryogoku</p><p>7892 - Ozeki Maedayama</p><p>4272 - Maegashira Tatekabuto</p><p>3556 - Komusubi Nayoroiwa</p><p>3456 - Maegashira Oshio</p><p>1359 - Sekiwake Terukuni</p><p>0205 - Yokozuna Minanogawa</p><p>0009 - Komusubi Asahigawa</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIlp5RHgQDo/YIX_6xSb99I/AAAAAAAAE-k/kCg5wGpquZEWknawz9vEc83qCkjBAiiPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2998/M412-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2998" data-original-width="1049" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIlp5RHgQDo/YIX_6xSb99I/AAAAAAAAE-k/kCg5wGpquZEWknawz9vEc83qCkjBAiiPwCLcBGAsYHQ/w224-h640/M412-3.jpg" width="224" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vc8Hw0m3MM/YIYABker3xI/AAAAAAAAE-o/n9c8xIb5_ZgegwX5NNDRru_JEkLtX5AYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s3035/M412-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3035" data-original-width="1036" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vc8Hw0m3MM/YIYABker3xI/AAAAAAAAE-o/n9c8xIb5_ZgegwX5NNDRru_JEkLtX5AYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w218-h640/M412-4.jpg" width="218" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p>Have a great week!</p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-53899088613085993142021-04-14T12:00:00.001-07:002021-04-14T12:00:00.177-07:001958 Sumo Appointment Card - What day of the week is it again?<p>Back in May of last year I posted about these sumo wrestling bromides calendar cards. <a href="https://sumocards.blogspot.com/2020/05/1960s-sumo-appointment-card-what-day-of.html" target="_blank">The first one I picked up was of Komusubi Tamanoumi </a>and I recently stumbled across this one of future Yokozuna Asashio shown as an ozeki. The good news is I can now nail down the year of these cards to about 1958. These cards are interesting and really hard to find as I have only run across these two in the 20 years of collecting. I thought they were originally from the 1960s or 1970s so I am now not sure what company Daiichi is or what services/products it provided. More to follow I am sure as I try and find a few more of these along the way. I hope everyone has an awesome week!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMqmQGt0Vjo/YHKDu67TepI/AAAAAAAAE-E/eEfbP-kq9-kVV9jC7kJbJtZltpeCxUUgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1159/Asashio%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="764" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMqmQGt0Vjo/YHKDu67TepI/AAAAAAAAE-E/eEfbP-kq9-kVV9jC7kJbJtZltpeCxUUgQCLcBGAsYHQ/w422-h640/Asashio%2B1.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9bpX0dm8bE/YHKDu6HcLWI/AAAAAAAAE-I/pzqCCPbNzgEckjrFedNACDE1_4d7htLPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1164/Asashio%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="772" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9bpX0dm8bE/YHKDu6HcLWI/AAAAAAAAE-I/pzqCCPbNzgEckjrFedNACDE1_4d7htLPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w424-h640/Asashio%2B2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-84635087016289398272021-04-10T21:41:00.002-07:002021-07-04T19:51:09.198-07:001981 Japanese Popy Pro Wrestling Cards - Antonio Inoki<p>Wrestlemania weekend is upon us and I thought I'd share a few vintage Japanese puroresu "pro wrestling" cards of Antonio Inoki. Arguably the most famous Japanese pro wrestler out there, Inoki was able to bring pro wrestling to the mainstream in Japan...much like Vince McMahon did in the United States. This 17-card set of Popy cards from 1981 famously features Hulk Hogan's rookie card as well as an early Andre the Giant card. They came inserted in blister packs along with vinyl figures, but nowadays they are extremely hard to find. Does anyone else collect these?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITbq8o48V_k/YHJ9bMTLv9I/AAAAAAAAE90/5r7OuawYT_E1Naz6NFVIZmtl8N9IfQyuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1491/Inoki%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1491" height="472" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITbq8o48V_k/YHJ9bMTLv9I/AAAAAAAAE90/5r7OuawYT_E1Naz6NFVIZmtl8N9IfQyuACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h472/Inoki%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3JTUce9twg/YHJ9bAAQQpI/AAAAAAAAE94/7RmCX6vBu9MqUlsVvHztpGTd3Bvt2GdWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1496/Inoki%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1496" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3JTUce9twg/YHJ9bAAQQpI/AAAAAAAAE94/7RmCX6vBu9MqUlsVvHztpGTd3Bvt2GdWgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h464/Inoki%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-34369109674494847772021-04-06T13:00:00.006-07:002021-07-04T19:51:58.528-07:001991 Japanese Mike Tyson Toyota Truck Telephone Card<p>It's Super Strong....piffff. Back in 1991 Toyota paid Mike Tyson a crap ton of yen to be the spokesperson for their line of Toyota Trucks. There was a whole advertising campaign behind it with commercials (<a href="https://youtu.be/cwRL9VH1JlA" target="_blank">click here for three of them</a>), magazine and pamphlets....and telephone cards. Telephone card collecting was in full force in the late 1980s and early 1990s and Toyota decided to use this advertising medium to capture one of the most iconic boxers and athletes of all time, Mike Tyson, with one of the most profitable collecting hobbies ever, Telephone Cards. Toyota ended up printing three different versions with Tyson on them and this red one is one of the most common. Anyone else ever run across one of these?</p><p>Have a great Tuesday!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVq_PLup0AU/YGvpWI5KtxI/AAAAAAAAE9k/uvz7n-hPoZwT9jsc2v9aQ-Rx-mtudoEtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1050/Tyson%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="665" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVq_PLup0AU/YGvpWI5KtxI/AAAAAAAAE9k/uvz7n-hPoZwT9jsc2v9aQ-Rx-mtudoEtQCLcBGAsYHQ/w406-h640/Tyson%2B1.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7Kz54MIWRk/YGvpWHXC0RI/AAAAAAAAE9o/LZvz2wmXrlc7W9zUgzSHVFSLrZy09XmlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1064/Tyson%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="694" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7Kz54MIWRk/YGvpWHXC0RI/AAAAAAAAE9o/LZvz2wmXrlc7W9zUgzSHVFSLrZy09XmlQCLcBGAsYHQ/w418-h640/Tyson%2B2.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-15261072050928376882021-04-01T06:00:00.002-07:002021-07-04T19:51:21.709-07:00Ultra-Rare 1984 Topps Glossy All-Stars Ted Simmons<p>According to Trading Card Database, only <a href="https://www.tcdb.com/CollectionCheck.cfm/sid/8731/cid/69309/1984-Topps---Glossy-All-Stars-9-Ted-Simmons" target="_blank">143 people in the world</a> have the #9 1984 Topps Glossy All-Stars Ted Simmons card with only a handful for sale on eBay. Not sure why this is card falls in the ultra-rare category, but <a href="http://diamond-jesters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Diamond Jesters</a> helps highlight the set.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp5o2HUR72c/YGEYZX5LdHI/AAAAAAAAE9U/UXO2ZhhnKAARMhpBucfHRc5bDiozhW2XQCLcBGAsYHQ/s350/8731-9Fr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="249" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp5o2HUR72c/YGEYZX5LdHI/AAAAAAAAE9U/UXO2ZhhnKAARMhpBucfHRc5bDiozhW2XQCLcBGAsYHQ/w456-h640/8731-9Fr.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJ_yXjx01-o/YGEYZX9XMTI/AAAAAAAAE9Q/Ia41DqQ8cMYtqxU5zw6iNrEDyY7qaSayACLcBGAsYHQ/s350/8731-69309RepBk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="247" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJ_yXjx01-o/YGEYZX9XMTI/AAAAAAAAE9Q/Ia41DqQ8cMYtqxU5zw6iNrEDyY7qaSayACLcBGAsYHQ/w452-h640/8731-69309RepBk.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518701523327984819.post-6286271358306139782021-03-29T13:00:00.005-07:002021-03-29T13:00:00.437-07:001964 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Post Cards - PC641<p>I am not a big sumo wrestling post card collector, but I feel like I am missing the boat every time I pick up a few random post card sets. Post Cards provide a snapshot in time of what sumo wrestlers looked like at the time of the photograph. Although not as visually appealing as some of the menko of the day, some post card designs are very nicely done and worthy of a second look anytime I am browsing card auctions. Take this newly discovered PC-series set, PC641: 1964 Blue Background Postcards, for instance. The colors, simplicity, and "crudeness" make this an easy pick up in my book especially since there are some <i>rikishi </i>that very rarely show u[p on cards. Equally interesting is how rare 1960s Japanese cards are; from the mid- to late-1960s they are virtually non-existent, including Japanese baseball cards. There was a cultural and economic tussle in the 1960s that encouraged kids, and the Japanese economy, to strive to be #1 and consequently a lot of the toys and games kids played with went to the wayside while they focused their attention on studying. Similarly, the accessibility of television sets also pulled kids attention away from the games of old to the virtual diversions being broadcast out to the masses. This set captures the top <i>rikishi </i>from the summer of 1964:</p><p>Yokozuna Taiho</p><p>Yokozuna Kashiwado</p><p>Yokozuna Tochinoumi</p><p>Ozeki Sadanoyama</p><p>Ozeki Kitabayama</p><p>Ozeki Yutakayama</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xr4p6VosGTM/YF6RPjPxFmI/AAAAAAAAE9E/k8uk7N1qSMcs0M66fbWgfrVCOerSYRsUACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PC%2B6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1354" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xr4p6VosGTM/YF6RPjPxFmI/AAAAAAAAE9E/k8uk7N1qSMcs0M66fbWgfrVCOerSYRsUACLcBGAsYHQ/w424-h640/PC%2B6.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGDmO_KhXzQ/YF6RPh0OzDI/AAAAAAAAE9A/7-X5QFpNV-k826h7reve667mSeZKs-WeACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PC%2B7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGDmO_KhXzQ/YF6RPh0OzDI/AAAAAAAAE9A/7-X5QFpNV-k826h7reve667mSeZKs-WeACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h498/PC%2B7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p>SumoMenkoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461389544030702085noreply@blogger.com6