This album contains my collection of Japanese-licensed BBM (Baseball Magazine) sumo wrestling cards/sets, starting with BBM's sumo debut, the 1997 "Modern" set, to date. A description appears under the first entry for each year (in the far left column), and notes the number of cards in the set. Sets from 1997-2010 are represented by scans of about 10-12 cards (6 cards for the more recent 2011-date sets) which include ALL active Yokozuna along with some of the other top/most popular rikishi cards of that year. Also included are special/short printed cards that were randomly inserted in card packs (or "inserts") and were NOT part of the regular set. These insert cards, issued from 1997-2003, are displayed in the rows beneath the regular (or "base") sets they were issued with. The rank assigned in each card's description is the highest the pictured rikishi would achieve in his career, though not necessarily his rank in the card/year shown. Cards from 2004 through 2007 are particularly difficult to locate, as BBM sumo card production purportedly dropped significantly during this period--which has been referred to by advanced collectors, such as Ryan Laughton and Paul Fogarty, as the "Black Hole" or "Lost Years/Dead Era" 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 mega-popular native son Yokozuna Takanohana in 2003 (after he had two years of frequent kyujo in 2001-02). Also, beginning with the 2004 set, BBM reduced the base set size to 99 cards, and discontinued insert cards--obvious signs of less demand in their Sumo product during that time. The tough 2004 set also features the debut of future Yokozuna Hakuho- the all time record holder for victories and championships- who appears on two cards in the set (#65 & #88)--arguably the 2 most valuable base set sumo cards that BBM has ever produced. The 2007 set in particular seems to surface far less than any other in my experience, and may well be the most difficult to complete. I have added some approximate current values for sets, insert sets and autographed cards underneath their descriptions. The values assigned are just my best guesses (updated as of 2023), as there is no price guide for sumo cards at the moment, and reflect my own purchase prices as well as my observations on recent transactions. At the bottom of the page, I have listed my autographed BBM Sumo cards, SCM /BBM promo Sumo cards, as well as some non-BBM Sumo cards. I have other sumo related albums on Imageevent, displaying my Trump Sumo playing card decks, my JSA licensed Sumo postcards and other Sumo collectibles. To view my other albums--just click the "HOME" button on the top of any of my pages. If anyone shares this collecting interest, I would heartily recommend the BBM Sumo Card Collectors page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1630250003925942/ or you may contact me at supplex55@yahoo.com
Album by Michael Ford. 1 - 548 of 548 Total. 30866 Visits.
1 1997 BBM MODERN box 1997 MODERN set (180) Approx set value: $100
2 1997 BBM MODERN #1 Yokozuna Takanohana (BBM debut card)
3 1997 BBM MODERN #2 Yokozuna Akebono (BBM debut card)
4 1997 BBM MODERN #3 Yokozuna Musashimaru (BBM debut card)
5 1997 BBM MODERN #4 Ozeki Takanonami (BBM debut card)
6 1997 BBM MODERN #5 Yokozuna Wakanohana (BBM debut card)
7 1997 BBM MODERN #7 Ozeki Tochiazuma (BBM debut card)
8 1997 BBM MODERN #9 Ozeki Musoyama (BBM debut card)
9 1997 BBM MODERN #10 Ozeki Kaio (BBM debut card)
10 1997 BBM MODERN #15 Ozeki Konishiki (BBM debut card)
11 1997 BBM MODERN #35 Ozeki Chiyotaikai (BBM debut card)
12 1997 BBM MODERN Takanohana puzzle inserts P1-P9 complete set (9) Approx set value: $175
13 1997 BBM MODERN #S1 Yokozuna Takanohana 1997 Sanyaku insert complete set (5) Approx set value: $150
14 1997 BBM MODERN #S2 Yokozuna Akebono Sanyaku insert
15 1997 BBM MODERN #S3 Ozeki Takanonami Sanyaku insert
16 1997 BBM MODERN #S4 Yokozuna Musashimaru Sanyaku insert
17 1997 BBM MODERN #S5 Yokozuna Wakanohana Sanyaku insert
18 1997 BBM MODERN Akebono puzzle inserts P10-P18 complete set (9) Approx set value: $175
19 1998 BBM EAST Trading card box 1998 EAST set (195) Approx set value: $100
20 1998 BBM EAST #1 Yokozuna Takanohana
21 1998 BBM EAST #3 Yokozuna Akebono
22 1998 BBM EAST #7 Yokozuna Musashimaru
23 1998 BBM EAST #9 Yokozuna Wakanohana
24 1998 BBM EAST #13 Ozeki Kaio
25 1998 BBM EAST #2 Yokozuna Takanohana
26 1998 BBM EAST #4 Yokozuna Akebono
27 1998 BBM EAST #8 Yokozuna Musashimaru
28 1998 BBM EAST #10 Yokozuna Wakanohana
29 1998 BBM EAST #14 Ozeki Kaio
30 1998 BBM EAST #R18 Yokozuna Takanohana 20th Century Rivals (insert set of 18) Approx set value: $175
31 1998 BBM EAST #S1 Yokozuna Takanohana 1998 Sanyaku insert card complete set (5) Approx set value: $150
32 1998 BBM EAST #S2 Yokozuna Akebono Sanyaku insert card
33 1998 BBM EAST #S3 Ozeki Takanonami Sanyaku insert card
34 1998 BBM EAST #S4 Yokozuna Musashimaru Sanyaku insert card
35 1998 BBM EAST #S5 Yokozuna Wakanohana Sanyaku insert card
36 1998 BBM EAST Rivals of the 20th Century #R17-18 Akebono vs. Takanohana (uncut redemption set:18 cards/9 panels) Approx set value: $225
37 1998 BBM WEST #1 Yokozuna Wakanohana 1998 WEST set (195) Approx set value: $100
38 1998 BBM WEST #2 Yokozuna Akebono
39 1998 BBM WEST #3 Yokozuna Takanohana
40 1998 BBM WEST #4 Ozeki Takanonami
41 1998 BBM WEST #5 Yokozuna Musashimaru
42 1998 BBM WEST #8 Okeki Chiyotaikai
43 1998 BBM WEST #9 Okeki Kaio
44 1998 BBM WEST #12 Ozeki Musoyama
45 1998 BBM WEST #17 Ozeki Dejima
46 1998 BBM WEST #19 Ozeki Tochiazuma
47 1998 BBM WEST #123 Ozeki Konishiki
48 1998 BBM WEST #SS Yokozuna Wakanohana Special insert card Approx value: $50
49 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Akebono "Aroma of Bintsuke" Sanyaku insert #S1 insert complete set (6) Approx set value: $150
50 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Takanohana "Aroma of Bintsuke" Sanyaku insert #S2
51 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Wakanohana "Aroma of Bintsuke" Sanyaku insert #S3
52 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Musashimaru "Aroma of Bintsuke" Sanyaku insert #S4
53 1998 BBM WEST Ozeki Takanonami "Aroma of Bintsuke" Sanyaku insert #S5
54 1998 BBM WEST Ozeki Kaio "Aroma of Bintsuke" Sanyaku insert #S6
55 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Akebono Rivals insert #R1 insert complete set (14) Approx set value: $150
56 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Takanohana Rivals insert #R2
57 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Wakanohana Rivals insert #R3
58 1998 BBM WEST Ozeki Kaio Rivals insert #R4
59 1998 BBM WEST Yokozuna Musashimaru Rivals insert #R5
60 1998 BBM WEST Rivals #R1-R2 Akebono vs. Takanohana (uncut redemption set: 14 cards/7 panels) Approx set value: $175
61 1999 BBM UPPER #1 Yokozuna Takanohana 1999 UPPER set (195) Approx set value: $125
62 1999 BBM UPPER #3 Yokozuna Wakanohana
63 1999 BBM UPPER #5 Yokozuna Akebono
64 1999 BBM UPPER #7 Yokozuna Musashimaru
65 1999 BBM UPPER #11 Ozeki Chiyotaikai
66 1999 BBM UPPER #23 Ozeki Kaio
67 1999 BBM UPPER #2 Yokozuna Takanohana
68 1999 BBM UPPER #4 Yokozuna Wakanohana
69 1999 BBM UPPER #6 Yokozuna Akebono
70 1999 BBM UPPER #8 Yokozuna Musashimaru
71 1999 BBM UPPER #12 Ozeki Chiyotaikai
72 1999 BBM UPPER #24 Ozeki Kaio
73 1999 BBM UPPER #S1 Yokozuna Takanohana Sanyaku lazer-cut insert complete set (5) Approx set value: $150