These cards were produced by the Kagome company, who also manufactured quite a number of baseball menko during the 1940s and 1950s. The lot consists of 302 cards found in their original box. There are 20 different cards in the set, but each card was produced in a thinner version (more common) and a thicker version (scarce), for a total of 40 different cards including variations.

The data on the image of the reverse of the cards lists the number of thinner cards and thicker cards (in parentheses) for each rikishi (wrestler). The five yokozuna (grand champions) included in the set are (top row, left to right) Yoshibayama, Kagamisato, Tochinishiki, Chiyonoyama and Wakanohana. All but Wakanohana are listed as yokozuna on the reverse. Wakanohana was promoted to the rank of yokozuna in January 1958. The other four rikishi were promoted to yokozuna in 1954 or earlier. Therefore, we know that the set was produced between 1954 and 1957, but we are not certain of the exact year of issue. In any case, this is the first time that we have had the pleasure to offer such a large quantity of sumo cards of one type, or any large group of sumo cards in the original box.

Size: Each card is 1 3/4" x 3 3/4".

Condition: The cards are Nm/Mt and Mint. The box is Vg.