Satsumadori

Also named Kagoshima Game

 Satsuma-dori pair in a Japanese magazine (from Julia)

The history

The Satsumadori originates from Japan. According to the Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics of the University of Hiroshima the breed is originating from the Edo era (1603- 1867). Satsuma used to be the former name of the province of Kagoshima. In those times the breed was known as Ojidori (large country fowl). The present name (gotten in the 1920’s) implies nothing more than (country) fowl of Satsuma. It is sometimes referred as Kagoshima game.  In 1943 the breed was officially declared as protected cultural heritage by the Japanese Ministry of Culture.

The Satsumadori is developed by crossings with, among others, Shamo and Shoukoku (and some local breeds) and was a real game bird, a “knife bird’. These fast fighting game birds fought with steel knives attached to their legs. Possibly the Japanese copied the different game styles and use of slashers, like Philippine breeders. It lasted only a while before they were imported to Europe, since this breed has an attractive full long tail, like Sumatra and Yokohama. Especially by Dutch and Belgian breeders, German breeders were soon to follow.

Today good breeding stock is difficult to find in Western Europe. In Germany the breed becomes more popular. Occasionally the Satsumadori can be admired at shows. The stock, present in Germany nowadays, has presumably been built on about 14 birds, which were imported from southern Japan in the 1970’s.

Nowadays, an individual breeder might succeed in importing eggs (Or takes them with him from Japan). On this basis it is not surprising that breeders have to cope with serious problems, like in-breeding. As a consequence, breeders crossed the Satsumadori with other breeds; understandable, but unfortunately often breeds were used with dominant characteristics, which are difficult to get rid of. One of those breeds, for instance, is the Kraienkoppe (Twente fowl). At first sight they have much in common, but the Kraienkoppe have strong genes, therefore typical characteristic features of the Satsumadori disappear. Consequently Satsumadori with ‘European’ colours appeared.

The weight of a cock is roughly 3.5 kg and of a hen roughly 2.5 kg. Satsumadori have, like the Sumatra, a fragile head and a triple pea comb. The comb should be as small as possible, like used in game fighting. A large comb is not desired in order to prevent wounds.

The earlobes are red. The colour of the legs is yellow, with the exception for black birds. Also the fierce yellow eyes are much desired.

A typical feature of the Satsumadori is the robust, broad posture of the legs, long back with a turkeytail. Also the long broad sickles are a main feature. The tail might appear less full and broad when in rest, but when the cock is excited the tail swarms around instantly.

Also a typical feature is the slow growth. The grow only stops in the second year; especially the cocks need this time to produce some body. One - breeder and judge alike - must take that into account.

As to the colour description the Japanese nomenclature differs very much from the European terminology. Colour is of secondary importance, especially for game birds. They name the colour of the birds after the colour of the hackle of the cock. The colours differ anyway from what we are used to in Europe, although it does resemble what we know.

The Japanese colours:

Shirosasa:

Means literally “white hackles” or “white decorated”. Shiro= white and sasa ( also: zasa) = hackles. The birds seem to be silver partridge at first sight, but differ by, a grey breast for the hens.

Akasasa:

Means literally “reddish decorated” or “red hackled”. Also in this colour the hens do not have the salmon-colour breast we know from partridge-coloured hens

Kisasa:

Means literally “yellow decorated” or ‘yellow hackled”. It reminds me of the partridge-colour with deep yellow hackles.

Kinsasa:

Means literally “golden decorated” or ‘golden hackled”. As far as I could disentangle goldwing birds are meant. 

Taihaku:

Means literally “white body”. It is pure white, both cocks and hens.

Soukoku:

Implies self black. Although the terminology for black= kuro (think of, for instance, Kurogashiwa)

I found a translation of a Japanese professor in poultry genetics; he tranlates Shirosasa as “black brested silver” and also as “silver-hackled”.

Akasasa was translated as “blackbrested red’” and Kinsasa as “blackbrested golden”.

The Japanese are perfectionists in everything. That also implies to their local breeds. The original Satsumadori was a delicate, high legged bird, which had to be swift. When game fighting was banned in Japan more heavy birds were created, in connection with meat production. Nowadays the breed is known as “the breed with the delicate meat”.

The Japanese breeder, with whom I had contact, (Who's family has been breeding the breed for over 90 years) wishes that the European breeder “understands” the breed.

 Not to forget the history of this bird. It made it what it is. This is a picture from an old Japanese magazine (from Julia)