Pop Quiz Hotshot - 1941 Japanese Quiz Menko

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.

In 1941, this menko set was printed to test kid's on their knowledge of one of the 82 different winning moves (kimarite) 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 reported on it almost 2 years ago.

I have catalogued this set as the M416: 1941 Circle Quiz 5 set and each menko measures approximately 1 3/8" x 2 7/8".

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:

Have a great week and sayonara!

1941 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Menko - M412: 1941 Nagoya Trophy 4

It's not often that I can add to the checklists for some older, extremely-rare menko 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-menko, 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 rikishi's likeness.  A good quality set for the ages and I am happy to now have the checklist as follows:

9612 - Maegashira Fujigatake

9024 - Maegashira Tamanoumi

7897 - Maegashira Ryogoku

7892 - Ozeki Maedayama

4272 - Maegashira Tatekabuto

3556 - Komusubi Nayoroiwa

3456 - Maegashira Oshio

1359 - Sekiwake Terukuni

0205 - Yokozuna Minanogawa

0009 - Komusubi Asahigawa

Have a great week!

1941 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Menko - R417 Rikishi Math Backs 1-2-3-4

Back in April I wrote about these flash-card type of menko that had math equations on the back for kids to solve and as a way, I am assuming, to get kids more engaged in math.  Here is another set I came across during the COVID days of browsing auction sites.  Interestingly, all the math-back menko that I own are from 1941.  Not sure why this is.  It may be that the same company produced all math-back menko and found success in the math theme.  Maybe there was some cultural phenomenon going on that made these type of backs more appealing to the kids and several companies hopped on board.  Not sure we'll ever know.  Definitely a pretty cool piece of Japanese history for sure.

This set captures the great Yokozuna Futabayama as well as many of the top-ranked wrestlers of the era.  Hard to believe that soon after this set was released, Japan would drag the United States into World War II which would ultimate cease menko production for the next 5 years until the war ended.

Here is a shout out to all the teachers out there fighting through this pandemic continuing to educate our kids and keeping them engaged in important school subjects.  Thanks especially to Fuji!

1941 Japanese Sumo Wrestling Menko - R416 Rikishi Math Backs 1-2

Being cooped up with a school-age kid makes me really appreciate all the hard work and effort our Nation's teachers give and sacrifice on a daily basis during a "normal" school day.  With the shift to online learning throughout the country, the new and creative way that teachers are overcoming this "new" method of teaching is nothing short of epic.  Thanks to all of our educators out there!!

Back in 1941, right before World War II started (or at least between the U.S. and Japan), an unknown Japanese company produced this Math Back menko set in order to entice kids to buy them in hopes that they would not only play with them, but use them as a learning tool as well.  There are numerous examples throughout the 1940s and 1950s of Japanese companies doing this.  They are the precursors to flash cards it seems.  These three menko that recently came up for auction are the only three of this set I have seen in my close to 20 years of collecting sumo menko making them extremely rare.  This small lot features the great Yokozuna Futabayama (75/5=), the weak Yokozuna Minanogawa(27+5=), and the even weaker Yokozuna Akinoumi shown here as an Ozeki (50+4=).  Amazingly, these menko survived the air raids and destruction of the city they resided in starting 79 years ago.

Take care and good luck with all the home schooling and online learning!!

Who felt the earthquake?

California had a fairly strong earthquake yesterday.  Fortunately the damage was limited and it wasn't stronger and closer to LA.  Our house swayed a little bit down here for 20-30 seconds is all.  I hoping for a speedy recovery for those that were more severely affected.

Ebay is not my go-to auction site for picking up sumo menko, but these beauties from 1941 showed up and I immediately snagged them.  There was another auction of these that popped too that I snagged as there were several more in that one that I needed.  All in all, it looks like there are at least 12-13 total menko in this set.  These menko depict the Natsu (summer) 1941 tournament and were printed right before World War II kicked off for the United States.  What is most unique about this set is that they are designed to be a quiz where the front shows a winning technique being performed by two wrestlers, but asks the reader to guess which one it is.  The drawings of the wrestlers are fairly crude, but when you turn the menko over, the correct technique is revealed as well as the name of the wrestler that is depicted on front.  I have never seen one of the sets before and knew I needed to add them to my collection.  Interestingly, the menko of Onami has the word "Robot" (ロボット) written on the back....which had only been coined a term only 20 years earlier.