Japanese Menko Never-ending ID Thread...

jjbond · #1 08-05-2023, 04:42 PM

Hi there, I have just started collecting Japanese Menkos, and of course am running into identification issues. Anyone want to help?

The first pair look like they belong in the JCM 12 or 43 series (1960 Marusan Simple Back). However, I can't find a match (the issue I'm seeing is that the position is in parentheses). Am I missing something, or should I chalk it up to my "uncatalogued" category?

The next two I feel more comfortable about, but want to double-check. I think the left one is from JCM43e (the b&w one), but I don't clearly see which player. The one on the right I think is JCM12e - I think 315000 Hamanaka?

And the final group, I think are both from JCM12d. I think I've got 190000 Hakota and 400100 Kuroki. Does that look right?

So far it's been fun getting into the depths of Menko collecting. But this specific series has been the most frustrating for me to figure out so far. The colorful earlier cards are much easier for me to figure out. But of course I'll have to start an "Uncatalogued" thread to share as well....

seanofjapan · #2 08-06-2023, 08:07 PM

Yeah, in terms of players you've got:

Top picture: Kondo and Kuroki

Middle picture: Ooishi and Hamanaka

Bottom picture: Hakota and Kuroki

Those sets are really hard to keep track of, but basically with the player name and number on back combination it should be easy to figure out which set they belong to!

Peter_Spaeth · #3 08-06-2023, 08:11 PM

Sean any chance you know the date of this Mifune? I only have 1950s for it. Thanks.

seanofjapan · #4 08-06-2023, 08:17 PM

Oh that is a beautiful Mifune.

Unfortunately I can't put a date on it (but would agree with the "1950s" ballpark). With non-sports menko its almost impossible to narrow it down. With the baseball sets they were able to do it by the teams players were depicted with, but its hard to do the same thing with non-sports ones (which also don't have a catalogue yet).

The text on it says "Shichinin no Samurai", the Japanese title for Seven Samurai, so it would have to date to after 1954 (and might be close to that year since they usually made menko based on whatever was popular at the time).

Peter_Spaeth · #5 08-06-2023, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

Oh that is a beautiful Mifune.

Unfortunately I can't put a date on it (but would agree with the "1950s" ballpark). With non-sports menko its almost impossible to narrow it down. With the baseball sets they were able to do it by the teams players were depicted with, but its hard to do the same thing with non-sports ones (which also don't have a catalogue yet).

The text on it says "Shichinin no Samurai", the Japanese title for Seven Samurai, so it would have to date to after 1954 (and might be close to that year since they usually made menko based on whatever was popular at the time).

Many thanks. I bought it from a Japanese seller but they weren't sure of the date. An actor who may never get his due.

seanofjapan · #6 08-06-2023, 08:55 PM

Agreed that he doesn't get his due!

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