THE SATSUMADORI <return to JAPANESE BREEDS index
A FEW NOTES ON COLOUR and TYPE (from the Webmaster, Marc King):
I have now gathered quite a bit of information on the Satsumadori here in Europe and have seen 2 to 3 distinct types within the 4 colours in Europe. In essence, there are heavy-set and there are light-weight birds, but the direction to take or keep the breed is toward a muscular, large breed with good leg length and spectacularly fanned and feathered tail. Of the couple of hundred birds I have seen, the dark brown Akasaza are the lightest, most elegant-looking type and the heaviest type were birds from the Black Breasted Silvers. I personally prefer the dark brown type, which is also beautifully illustrated in the images sent to me by Mr Uichiro Sakamoto.
The colours of the Satsumadori are: Akasasa (BBRed/Red Duckwing), Shirosasa (BBSilver/Silver Duckwing), Kisasa (BBGolden/Golden Duckwing), Soukoku (Black), and Taihaku (White - a recessive form).
The BBReds Akasaza are superb of type, but have often been heavier in body. The Akasaza colouration includes all shades of Black Breasted Red from a very light BBGolden to a dark chestnut brown. No difference should be made in this range of colour, as the form and type are most important to the Japanese who created this breed. The blacks should, however, be pure blacks without red in the hackle and the whites, being a recessive white to both the Akasaza and the Shirosaza, are a rather creamy white with an occasional hint of darker cream in the hackle.
The first black line (see PAGE 4 in the links at the bottom of this page) introduced into Europe in the late 1990's is probably extinguished, as I could not trace down anyone who still worked with them or knew of their whereabouts. I was told that they also gave single-combed offspring, showing their rather recent infusion of Tomaru' blood to fix the colour. The type was also heavy and robust with moderately long legs. As of Spring 2002, however, there is a new line of blacks in Europe. This second line seems to be highly refined, feather-rich and much more typical of show Satsumadori. For more information, contact Julia Keeling of the Isle of Man.
There are 2 distinct whites that I have seen in Europe: the descendants of the cock shown here on the right which are lighter, extremely gamey in type and more pronouncedly shamoid in carriage and presentation. Another line of whites has been crossed with BBSilvers and are more robust, heavier and larger in type.
Within the Black Breasted Silvers I have seen again the two basic distinct types: a heavier-bodied and a lighter bodied type. The plumage ranges from a rather moderate length to a luxuriously full and showy tail. The colour of the BBSilver in the male mirrors normal BBSilvers of other breeds, but the females are completely lacking the salmon colouration in the breast. They are more of a grey-silver bird. Most Silvers I have seen at the shows in Germany have been of a more robust type, well-muscled and heavier in stance.
