written and researched by Willem van Bellekom 2023

This breed is still a mystery, however we do know some interesting facts. The Chilean gamefowl author Carlos Finsterbuch mentions the Tuzo in his chapter Japanese Game Fowls in his publication “Cockfighting all over the World” (1928). This is quite interesting due to the fact that Japanese poultry authorities deny the existence of a Tuzo breed in Japan. Strangely, he does not mention the Nankin-Shamo.   In the 1990's I did send photos of Tuzo to the Japanese Poultry Society, this is the most respected poultry club in Japan. Even Crown Prince Akishino, a renown poultry scientist himself who published many studies on Japanese domestic poultry breeds, is a member of this club. The photos I have sent were all unmarked to not influence their judgement. These photos were all clearly identified as Nankin-Shamo.

The story goes that American soldiers, stationed in Japan after the end of the Second World War, brought home Tuzo eggs (or live birds). This story however has never been confirmed by American sources. The Tuzo breed is also not mentioned in American gamefowl literature or magazines. The Tuzo breed was also never standardized into the American Poultry Standard of Perfection.

In the USA, the birds resembling the Tuzo are simply known as little black Asils. Also the name Rampuri Asil wanders around in the United States. When I visited Louisiana (USA) in 1998 my host Carl Cabrol, a cocker, took me to many breeders (cockers). No one ever heard about a breed named Tuzo. If I showed them photos, for these people they were little black Asils. In 1965 the Dutch gamefowl authority Awe Wulffte-Palthe imported Tuzo eggs into Holland which he received from Horst Schmudde, a German poultry judge living in New Jersey (USA). After the first import in 1965, Tuzos have been imported into Belgium by Willy Coppens and Louis van der Snickt. These came from Izack Hunter (United States). Another batch was imported by Willy Coppens and John van der Laan (Holland) from Everett Pettey (USA). In 1979 Wilfried Detering from Germany imported a trio Tuzo from Horst Schmudde (USA). These imports formed the breeding base in Europe.

Horst Schmudde told me personally that he imported Nankin-Shamo from Japan. At present day the Tuzo breed can be found in various European countries.  A Japanese book named "Honzomomokukeimo" written by Ranzan Ono in 1800 mentions that Dutch traders brought small fowl from India to Japan onwards 1600. These were known as Tuzi (sounds familiar with Tuzo!) or Iwakuni Tuzi. The name Tuzi was apparently a synonym for "translator". These Tuzi, according the information in that book, weighed around 1125 grams (the equivalent of 300 Japanese Momme). Baron Takanaru Mitsui mentions in his 1933 book “Kakin-zukan” birds known as Tuzi or Iwakuni Tuzi which were found on Kyushu island and the Chugoku region on Honshu island.

Regarding India, here comes some information from Carlos Finsterbusch into play, he mentions an Asil variety known as Kalkatiya.  An incorrect interpretation. It is not a variety.  The expression Kalkatiya consists of 2 words, Kal (= black) and Katiya (= hooks). This expression is used in India to describe any black-spurred fowl.  These black spurs are not alone mentioned in the Asil chapter  by Carlos Finsterbusch in his “Cockfighting all over the World” (1928) but also in the Tuzo description in the Japanse Game Fowls chapter.  Finsterbusch also mentions a black tongue, but this feature has never been seen in the Tuzo strains of today.  Only the Indonesian all black Ayam Cemani, which is not a gamefowl breed, has a black colored tongue.

Regarding pigmentation in the Tuzo breed, two colors can be observed, a blackish or deep blue face (especially the hens show this feature) and a deep red color of the face. In South America you generally see dark faced (aka gypsy-faced) Tuzos.  In Europe you can see more red faced birds.  About the shank colours, you can see flesh coloured shanks with black pigmentation, yellow coloured shanks, and completley black shanks. All very mysterious. There are more questions then definite answers.

Due to the Japanese statement about the Dutch bringing black birds from India and the name Tuzi I truly believe that the Tuzo simply was a small black spurred Asil. I am personally of the opinion that many black Tuzo Asils shown on the Internet are Tuzos.  Is this an allegation or an insult to these breeders? Not at all, it only strengthens my opinion that the Tuzo is actually an Asil.  I hope one day DNA research will confirm the possible genetic link between the Tuzo and the Asil.

The weight range of the Tuzo in Europe is ranging from slender birds of ±1200 grams (2.6 Lbs) but also Asil-like birds weighing up to 2000 grams (4.4 Lbs). The weight of the Nankin-Shamo in Japan is around 950 grams (2 Lbs).  As the Nankin-Shamo in Japan is a very light bird, this can also be caused by inbreeding over many generations which causes loss of weight and size.  A possible reason for this is that the Nankin-Shamo has become a very rare breed in Japan today. 

The Tuzo breed has a reputation for aggressiveness, even at chick age. In Europe the Tuzo is known as an exhibition breed, but there are always exemptions to the rule. I know personally of two occasions in the 1990's when I watched tournaments for small gamefowl: Petit Combattant du Nord, Old English Game and…..Tuzo in the pit of Sainte Marie Kerque (Northern France). They were pitted in the classic Northern French steel spur (I think less long as the one used for the Grand combattant du Nord).  Those Tuzo’s performed very well. I have sent over Tuzo eggs to Aruba, one of the Dutch Caribbean islands were cockfighting is still legal. They performed very well in the postiza game. They were also successful when crossed with the local Gallos Finos. Many people in the sport confirm their good reputation in the pit. The Tuzo is a real little pocket rocket and game to the bone. Tuzo chicks are known for vicious fighting at young age.

Regarding those so called "Black Rampuri Asil" in the United States. They actually show all the physical features of the Tuzo. So this backs up the theory that the “Japanese” Tuzo actualy is an Indian Asil.