BBM Sumo trading cards

[supplex55 5]

Hi-- I am new here on the forum and am curious if other members here are also collectors of BBM Sumo cards.   I would love to start a discussion here of what sets members are collecting and can recommend various resources to assist in building sets/collections of the trading cards.  I personally have been trying to assemble complete BBM sumo sets from their initial debut in 1997 to date.  You can take a look at my collection here:   https://imageevent.com/supplex55/supplex55bbmsumocardcollection1997

[Itachi 396]

Hi Supplex,

I was living in Japan from 1997-1999 and I collected the first set. I had all the cards except a few of the tegata ones which were pretty rare.

Unfortunately, I shipped the most important cards in a separate box when I returned to Canada and that little box was the only one to get lost in the mail. All the tegata ones were lost.

I still have some unopened packs though! And happy memories from the experience of striving for that complete set (not counting the tegata ones).

I bought a few from the 2nd series but didn't put as much effort into completing that set.

 

[supplex55 5]

Thanks for sharing your experience collecting sumo cards.  Though I have been a sumo fan since 1999-2000, I did not start collecting sumo cards until 2017-18, beginning with the more recent sets.  After finishing 2017 to date, I began to look to collecting all of the sumo cards produced by BBM since their debut release in 1997 since those sets contained rikishi I was familiar with and helped stir my initial interest in the sport.  Thinking this should not be so difficult, as the sets were comparatively recently produced, I soon realized that it was not the case. While 1997-2000 are still in good supply,  2001-2003 are much more difficult to build and then the "black hole" of sumo collecting begins with 2004. Cards from 2004 through 2007 are particularly difficult to locate, as BBM sumo card production purportedly dropped significantly during this period--often referred to by advanced collectors as the "Black Hole" or "Lost Years" of sumo card collecting. A possible reason for the 2004-07 scarcity is a decline of Japanese interest in the sport following the retirement of the mega-popular Yokozuna Takanohana in 2003 (after he had two years of frequent kyujo in 2001-02). Also, beginning with the 2004 set, BBM reduced the set size to 99 cards, and discontinued insert cards--an obvious sign of less demand in their Sumo product during that time. I have largely, with the help of the Facebook group: BBM Sumo card collectors, completed all of the base sets from 1997-date.  I am still, at the time of this writing, missing 3 cards--all three from the "black hole" period:  2004 #14 and 64 as well as 2005 #65.  Additionally, I have accumulated hundred of extras to trade/sell.  Please contact me if you can help me finish my 2004 and 2005 sets, or have an interest in getting into the hobby as i can recommend resources, places to find cards and other collectors who can help...

Edited March 26, 2020 by supplex55
misspelling

[Gernobono 467]

maybe you are already in this group

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1630250003925942/

[supplex55 5]

Yes I am---I am Mike Ford and post there often....I  also have created my own site for other collectors to use for reference:

https://imageevent.com/supplex55/supplex55bbmsumocardcollection1997

 

Edited March 26, 2020 by supplex55
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[sumojoann 1,268]

Regarding the 3 cards you're missing, are they for particular rikishi?

[supplex55 5]

Thank you for asking--these are the 3 i am missing:

2004 BBM: #14 (Takamisakari) ,64 (Bushuyama)
2005 BBM: #65 (Tamaasuka)

i actually have pics of two of them here--

[supplex55 5]

here is the 2005 card i am missing to finish that set---

[sumojoann 1,268]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37-Sumo-card-Rare/174199996836?hash=item288f2101a4:g:Ij4AAOSwgNZeUp6q

I would recommend that you write to this ebay seller to see see if they could help you track down the 3 cards you want.  Also, on ebay, you have an option that might help you.  You can do a search for --- BBM Sumo Trading Card Takamisakari 2004 #14.  When it responds that there is nothing found, there is a box you can check (I think it says "Saved Search").  If anyone lists it in the future, you will receive an email notifying you of the listing!  This has helped me several times.  You would need to set up a separate "Saved Search" for each of the 3 cards.  Be sure to put in the card # and rikishi's name as well as the year (just like I did above).  The "Saved Search" doesn't expire but you can discontinue it at any time. 

I also recommend that you contact every ebay seller of OLD BBM sumo trading cards, no matter which country they are in, and ask them for help.

If you do a general Google search for the cards, you might find a Blog that you could write to.

Are there stores in your city or nearby larger cities that might carry the cards?

What is your price limit?

Assuming the cards are/were manufactured in Japan, are there any clubs there that you could join?  If you don't speak Japanese, is there anyone in the Facebook BBM club that does and who act as a go-between?

I know that Takamisakari is still well known so he might still have a fan club, either in the US or more likely in Japan.  You could join his fan club and ask the members for help.  Would either one of the other two still have fan clubs?  The name Tamaasuka sounds familiar but not Bushuyama.

Good luck!

[supplex55 5]

Thank you so much for your recommendations, many of which I have already done in the past.  I did contact the seller you sent the link to and

hope he may be able to help.  The only one of the 3 i recall seeing in action was Takamisakari (he would be difficult to forget--LOL).  Much appreciated--should you have further

recommendations or contacts who may be able to help, PLMK

 

[supplex55 5]

Just a quick follow up to wrap up this thread.... I was able to reach my goal of completing all of the Modern BBM Sumo Card sets just this past week with the help of my good friend Paul Fogarty who moderates the BBM Sumo card collectors Facebook page.  If anyone would like a look, here is the link to my Sumo collection again: https://imageevent.com/supplex55/supplex55bbmsumocardcollection1997

[Sumo Menko Man 13]

Congrats, that is a huge accomplishment, can't imagine many have done it before you outside of Japan.

[VegasChunks 0]

Does anyone have info on a 2001 Bbm Takanohana Yukata with a blue/white material insert?  It is card Y1 and #277 of 500

Any information is greatly appreciated.

[sumojoann 1,268]

Jason just posted this on Youtube 14 hours ago.  He is unboxing a new set of 2021 BBM sumo cards called "Heroes".  It features ONLY retired rikishi. 

 

[Sumo Menko Man 13]

Latest edition of Sumo Card Hub is live.

 

 

[Sumo Menko Man 13]

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[Sumo Menko Man 13]

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Edited October 30, 2021 by Sumo Menko Man