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 A FEW NOTES ON
COLOUR and TYPE (from the Webmaster, Marc King): 
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- All colours (except the blacks) have yellow legs, pea-combs, rounded,
full skull and wide, expressive eyes. No heavy eyebrows or walnut combs
have been seen. We in Europe are very fortunate to have been able to start
with this breed with extremely high quality bloodlines. 90% of the birds
that I have seen have had superb shoulder carriage, comb shape and size
as well as fiery, expressive eyes ranging from a pale light orange to pearly
silver and deep chesnut brown in the blacks. Red eyes are a disqualification.
The tail lengths and fullness vary quite a bit, some being true Longtails
and others not being more long-tailed than, say, a modern Sumatra.
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