Since there have been questions surrounding the majestic Japanese Shamo breed. Perhaps, the English version of the Japanese standard, sent to me by Mrs. Keeling will shed some light as to true Shamo (by the way there are only two: Chu & O Shamo) attitude and structure.
SHAMO
Origin: Japan
Classification: Asian Hardfeather. Large Fowl.
Egg colour: White or tinted
The Shamo is a Japanese bird of Malayoid type, originally imported to Japan from Thailand in the seventeenth century – the name being a corruption of Siam, the old name for Thailand. In Japan it was developed into a fighting bird of unmatched courage and ferocity. Its feathers are sparse but strong and shiny, and its powerful bone structure and well-muscled body and legs, coupled with its erect posture, make it an impressive and striking bird. Since its importation in the early 1970s the term ‘Shamo’ has covered all large fowl, but in Japanese classification, birds are divided into
Chu (medium) Shamo and O (large) Shamo.
General characteristics:
Male
Type and Carriage: General appearance fierce, powerful, proud and alert. Stance very upright
Body: Large and extremely firm with well-muscled abdomen.
Breast: Broad and full with deep keel.
Back: Long, broadest at shoulders, sloping down towards tail and gradually tapering from upper side of thigh. Backbone straight.
Wings: short, big, strong and bony, carried well down and close to the body, not showing on the back but with prominent shoulders.
Tail: carried below horizontal, length to give balance to the bird.
Head: Deep and broad with wattles and earlobes small or absent. Beak strong, broad and curved downwards, but not hooked. Eyes deep-set under overhanging brows. Comb triple and firm. Walnut comb rare – but also acceptable.
Neck: Long, strong-boned, slightly curved but almost erect.
Legs and feet: Legs medium to long – thick and strong with slight bend at hock. Thighs long, round and muscular. Shanks thick , strong and round. Toes four, long and well spread. Hind toe straight and firm on the ground.
Plumage: Feathers very short, narrow, hard and brilliant. Scant, and bare showing red skin at throat, keel and point of wing. Neck hackle feathers permitted to curl towards back of neck.
Handling: Extremely firm fleshed, muscular and well-balanced. Strong contraction of wings to body.
Female:
The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for natural sexual differences. Stance very upright, but it is acceptable for a female to be slightly less upright than the male.
Colour:
Black/red is the most common colour seen. (The ‘red’ may be any shade from yellow to dark red, with wheaten or partridge females which can be any shade from cream to dark brown, with or without dark markings). Ginger, white, black, splash, blue and duckwing are all recognised, and no colour or combination of colours is disqualified.
In both sexes and all colours:
Beak yellow or horn.
Legs and feet yellow. Blackish overcolour acceptable in dark coloured birds.
Comb, face, throat, earlobes and any exposed skin – brilliant red.
Eyes silver or gold. Darker eyes acceptable in young birds.
Weights:
Male 3kg (6lb10oz) minimum
Female 2.25kg (4lb14oz) minimum
[Chu Shamo – male above 3kg (6lb10oz) and under 4kg (8lb12oz), female above 2.25kg (4lb14oz) and under 3kg (6lb10oz).
O Shamo – male 4kg (8lb12oz) and above, female 3kg (6lb10oz) and above.]
Serious defects:
Lack of attitude. Poor carriage. Overlarge comb. ‘Duck’ feet.
