History of the Japanese Shamo

by Willem van Bellekom

Prior to the 15th century, no Malayoid-type fowl were found in Japan.  The only birds to be found in the land of the rising sun were “Jidori”, a small bantam-sized Bankiva-type fowl. Chinese Buddhist monks introduced longtail fowl from mainland China around 538 AC in the “Yamato-Asuka” period. Until the end of the 1990’s the idea existed that the ancestors of the Shamo were introduced after the year 1600, when Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa officially allowed Japanese traders to trade with other Asian countries. These ships were known as the “Red Seal” vessels (Shuinsen). This period ended in 1632 when Japan closed its borders for foreigners but making exceptions for Dutch and Chinese traders.  Japanese scientists who performed a new domestic poultry DNA gene-mapping project found out that two main populations of Shamo existed in Japan.  The oldest genetic population was found on the island of Okinawa in the south of Japan.  Historical evidence confirms there was a very frequent trade between Okinawa and Thailand from the 14th until the 15th century.  

The ancestors of the Shamo likely came from Thailand (known as Siam till 1949).  The name Shamo is derived from the word “Sham” meaning Siam (=Thailand) in Japanese language.  The Japanese are real masters when breeding livestock.  Skillful breeding and selection enabled Japanese breeders to create animals with a very specific shape and typical breed features.  The more compact and horizontally build Thai gamefowl (genuine Thai name is Gaichon aka Kaichon) were physically shaped into very upright standing fighting birds with a long neck and high station. The main reason for this must have been to create a better overview and reach in the fight. Centuries of breeding gave the Shamo its very typical look. Some breeders are of the opinion that the Shamo-type we see today showing some “exaggerated” body characteristics have been created by exhibition breeders.  But that’s simply not true as these were already present on Shamos from the past going back to the 17thcentury (see the Japanese art objects in the accompanied photos).

 At present day many Shamo, especially the birds used for exhibition purposes, show a backline almost parallel to the line of the tail. Sometimes this parallel line is only interrupted by a very slight angle.  Another very typical feature is the upwards pointing shoulders.  When observed from the back, the wings and shoulders show a V-like shape.  The head should show a little firm peacomb (exemption is the rare single combed Shamo known as Daigiri aka Daikiri Shamo), pearl white colored eyes protected by well-developed eyebrows, a strong short beak and no wattles. The color of the face is red.  The thighs should be protuberant and very muscular.  Some Shamo experts are of the opinion that the length of the thigh should be longer than the length of the shank, this is for maximum power leverage.  The color of the shanks should be yellow or yellow with black spots.  Green legs are not allowed in Japan.

In Japan, the Shamo is divided into two different weight classes. The so-called Chu-Shamo (medium Shamo) with a weight of 3 to 4.125 Kg and the O-Shamo (large Shamo) with a weight of 4.875 to 5.625 Kg.  Both varieties are physically 100% identical.  In Okinawa, due to differences in language, the O-Shamo is called Dai Shamo.  Dai like O means large.  Japanese sources give a maximum weight for the large O-Shamo but why?  The reason for this is that Japanese cockfighters do not look for extreme heavy and clumsy birds but a less heavy bird that combines weight, power, speed, stamina, and agility.  These two weight classes are officially used in Japan, but outside the homeland these divisions are only adopted by Italy and the United Kingdom. An interesting fact about regarding the size of the large O-Shamo, in Japan the birds from Mr. Teramoto were the biggest and known as the “Monsters”.  To create these exceptional big Shamos, Mr. Teramoto imported large Taiwan Game in exchange for Japanese Shamos.

Shamo can be found in many countries around the world.  The breed is used for exhibition purposes but also still for cockfighting.  In Japan, and several other countries, the Shamo is only used for endurance fights with natural spurs only.  In Japan the Shamo is fought in a relatively small cockpit.  It’s a close combat game and not ideal for birds with a “running” fighting style (circling around their opponent). Some countries, such as Belgium were cockfighting is officially illegal, Shamos and Shamo-crosses are fought with large metal spikes (resembling carpenter nails).  They fight one single round of max. 45 minutes only.  The mediumweight/sized Chu-Shamo combining speed, power, stamina, and agility became quite popular among European cockers competing in the French naked heel circuit.  The Shamo breed is still in demand.  Shamos have grown in popularity over the past few years and are getting more and more popular in countries dominated by other gamefowl breeds like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines.  A similar Japanese breed is the Yakido, with its 2.6 Kg a lightweight Shamo (the black color is a typical breed feature).  Last but not least, we have to mention the so-called “Brazilian Shamo”.  Actually, this name, according Brazilian gamefowl breeders, incorrect.  This fighting cross is known in Brazil under various name like: Galo de Combate, Brigas de Galos, Galo de Rinha and Galo Mura. The Shamo-type birds seem to be favored by Brazilian cockers.  It was created by crossing Spanish Game (a lightweight Bankiva-type gamefowl breed) with the Asil and Japanese Shamo. This type of gamefowl gained a very good reputation in and outside Brazil.  The name “Brazilian Shamo” was quickly adopted all over the world.

Sources:

Where is the origin of the Japanese gamecocks (2003) by Tomoyoshi, Komiyama, KazuhoIkeo, Takashi, Gojobori

Japanese domesticated chickens have been derived from Shamo traditional fighting cocks (2004) by Komiyama T, Ikeo K, Tateno Y, Gojobori T

Daigiri Shamo (2003) by Masaoki Tsudzuki

A brief history of Okinawa (2002) by Okinawan-Shorinryu

A Lords Fowl (year ?) by I. Teramoto, President of the Japan Gunkei Hyogi-Kai

Kakinzukan (1933) by Baron Takanaru Mitsui

The Japan Poultry Society

Jean-Marie Vangansberg (Belgium)

Wikipedia (2023)

Article Written by:

Willem van Ballekom (2023) Holland