Japan
Malayoid
The Japanese are masters in minimizing objects and living things (bonsai trees, chicken, fish) The geographical conditions in Japan gave birth to thiss extra ordinary skill. There is almost no space to build as Japan is for 75% a country with hills and mountains. To enable indoor keeping of gamefowl they have created the Ko Shamo, a small game breed still in possesion of a game character. A trio of these birds are kept on a space of 4 square feet. Dispite these conditions fertility is excellent same as their laying performance and hatch rate. Growing up the chicks goes without problems, however a too overcrowed surface leads to a bloody war in the sense of the word as they display their "killer" instinct in an early live stage. Ko Shamo are very popular in Japan and Europe due to their qualities. They have following features: strawberry or walnut comb, pearlish eyes, extremly short in feathers, wings carried from the body the wing joints pointing above the shoulders.The tail is known as "shrimp" tail (main sicklefeathers curving down, sidefeathers pointing in horizontal direction). Also a very typical feature is the socalled open or splitted wing which in Japan is seen at the best birds. This feature is in Europe seen as an anatomical defect (who are we Westerners to conclude this ?). The whole body is divided in 3 equal parts (length) 1) head and neck, 2) body, 3) legs. Weight: male 2 Lbs (0.9 Kg), female 1.8 Lbs (0.8 Kg). Height: 9.8" (± 25 Cm). Another typical feature is that Ko Shamo walk on their front toes. Dispite the fact that Ko Shamo's succesfuly can be kept and bred under less fortunate conditions it is advised to give these birds sufficient space. Ko Shamo's are bred in a wide variety of colours. Its an ideal bird for the less fortunate (concerning living space) fancier of Asian gamefowl.
Shinichi Zenimoto (Japan) Ikuo Watanabe (President of the Japan Small Shamo Club)
Asian Gamefowl Society