Scratch-&-Sniff: Japanese Sumo Wrestling Style

Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, BBM was doing some cool things with their sets and insert sets that were somewhat "revolutionary" for their time...at least for sumo wrestling cards.  One item that seemed to be most unique were the aroma cards that smelled of bintsuke.  For those new to the sumo wrestling world, bintsuke is a hair oil/wax that wrestlers (actually, geisha use it too) have put in their hair when they are getting it styled.  It has a sweet smell and helps give the wrestlers that sheen as well as helps stiffen the hair to allow hairdressers to style it without it falling down.  Once you smell it, you'll instantly recognize it at any time in the future and it is a smell synonymous with sumo wrestling.  In 1998 BBM decided to put small patches of thin felt on a 6-card insert set (see below) and put a bit of bintsuke on them to create the "Smell of Bintsuke".  A really cool idea that is somewhat unique among trading cards, especially in Japan.  Unfortunately, 20 years later the aroma on most of these insert cards has long disappeared, but the thought that BBM was once edgy and cutting edge lingers on.

1998 East Series BBM Sumo Wrestling Set

The 1998 East Series set marked BBM's second year effort in the sumo card business as well as their second year of producing two annual sets.  The 1998 East Series set represents the 1998 Hatsu basho or 1998 New Year's tournament.  Like the 1997 set, this set is printed on high-gloss, high-quality card stock and each card measures approximately 2.75" x 3.5".   Cards came in packs of 8 with 30 packs per box.  This 218-card set is broken up into 9 subsets as follows:

#1-106 - Active Wrestlers
#107-144 - Toshiyori (Sumo Elders)
#145-153 - 1997 Winners
#154-163 - Yokozuna in Showa Era - Series 2
#164-174 - Top 10 Kinboshi Winners
#175-189 - Maegashira Bashi Winners after World War 2
#190-191 - Sumo Museum Collection
#192-195 - Checklists
#S1-S5 & R1-R18 Insert Cards

#1-#106 Active Wrestlers

There are two cards each of the top 40 wrestlers (a squatting, pre-bout pose and a standing, kesho-mawashi pose).  For the lower-ranked wrestlers there is only one card each and they are standing in their kesho-mawashi.  Backs have the standard statistics and biographical information along with smaller inset photos.

#107-#144 - Toshiyori (Sumo Elders)

Like the 1997 set, the 1998 East Series features cards of the elders of the sumo association..these are the guys that make it all happen and run the organization....all of them are retired wrestlers.  The fronts of the cards feature the elder in his active years and the back has anecdotal info along with career statistics.

 

 #145-153 - 1997 Winners

This subset shows the tournament winners (Makunouchi and Juryo) for the last three tournaments of 1997.  It also has the the special prize winners in Makunouchi.  The back has highlights of the tournament as well as an action photo during the match.  The wrestlers winning record is printed below the name as well as which tournament he won.

 

#154-#163 - Yokozuna in Showa Era - Series 2

This 10-card subset is a continuation of Series 1 in the 1997 set and features all the yokozuna who were active during the Showa Era (1926-1989).

#164-#174 - Top 10 Kinboshi Winners

This subset features the top 10 wrestlers who have scored a kinboshi in their career (Maegashira-ranked wrestlers beating a yokozuna). Akinoshima had 15 throughout his career.  

#175-189 - Maegashira Bashi Winners after World War 2

The lower ranked guys get no respect in sumo....unless they win one of the six annual tournaments.  This subset highlights the Maegashira-ranked wretlers who accomplished just that.  Notice the uncorrected spelling of ranks (lanks).

#190-#191 - Sumo Museum Collection

Another subset featuring items in the sumo museum.  Tow cards in this subset.

#192-#195 - Checklists

The all important checklists.  4 of them here for this 218-card set.

#R1-R18 Insert Cards

This short-printed subset is called Rivals in the 20th Century and feature the great rivals throughout the years.  The cards come in pairs as shown below for 9 total rivalries.  I think these were seeded maybe 1 or so per box.  The backs highlight the rivalry on one card and the win/loss record between the two on the other. 

#S1-S5 Insert Cards

This short-printed subset feature a 3D like starburst with the wrestler's image slightly raised.  The back details their 1997 year in review.