NANKIN SHAMO (sometimes called Nanking Shamo) 南京軍鶏
Lightest of the Japanese game breeds

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The Nankin Shamo is said to have originated from stock obtained by the Japanese breeders from Nanjing City, China. Nankin is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese Nanjing City.

 

This is probably the rarest of the small Shamo. It is difficult to find even in Japan and is probably non-existent anywhere else.

 

The Nankin Shamo is the lightest of the Japanese Game breeds, being slimmer and more elegant than the Ko Shamo, and having a long tail – rather like a tiny Shamo in type.

 

A regional variant exists – the Echigo Nankin Shamo, from the Niigata area. It is very similar to the main Nankin Shamo breed, but is slightly taller and slimmer.

 

It should be mentioned here that there are some in Europe and USA who maintain that the European/American TUZO is the same thing as the Japanese NANKIN SHAMO. This is incorrect - the Nankin is very much smaller and lighter than the Tuzo although it shares the long tail. Nankin cocks should be under 1kg (2.2lbs), Tuzo cocks are above 1kg to 1.5 kg (3.5lbs). There is no such breed as Tuzo in Japan, in name or in size.