Type                                         
SHAPE for JAPANESE BANTAMS

   Shape of Male

                   Shape of Female
 
This is not meant to replace the ABA or APA's Standard description.  It is only a quick, visual summary to aid in establishing an eye for show quality Japanese bantams.
 

   

Shape of Male  
BACK:
Very short, broad in profile,
U-shaped		 NECK:
short, tapered, "bull necked"
SADDLE:
Abundant, falling from back to tail coverts, and stern to wing ends		 HACKLE:
Abundant, falling over shoulders and down back
BODY:  short, very deep, compact ... stern:  fluff, short, abundant BREAST:
Broad, full, low, rounded, forward of plumb line from beak tip
Appearance:

Small, low built, broad and cobby ... large head ... large, full feathered upright tail ... hardly visible legs

Legs: shortest of any breed of bantams (except creepers) ... widely set, thick, parallel to each other ... thighs, shanks and spurs are short ... toes:  four, straight, well spread and evenly scaled

COMB:
Single, large, upright, five points evenly spaced, shape follows neck		 EYES:
Large, round, prominent
EAR-LOBES:
Large, oval, smooth, no wrinkles		 FACE:  Smooth, full over eyes, fine texture, no wrinkles
WATTLES:
Large, well rounded, no wrinkles		 BEAK:
Very strong, stout, well curved
HEAD:

Broad, large in comparison to size of bird  ... freakishly large on some Japanese websites, not that extreme in the USA
MAIN TAIL:
Feathers wide, well spread neatly overlapping, twice head height		 SICKLES:  Very erect, long, broad sword-shaped, slightly curved
COVERTS:
Abundant, curved, broadly sword-shaped		 LESSER SICKLES:
fairly upright, sword-shaped, curved
TAIL:

Very large and upright, slightly forward of perpendicular (almost touching head)
BARS (COVERTS):  Broad feathers form two bars SHOULDERS & FRONTS:
Partially hidden by hackle & saddle
PRIMARIES
(hidden) & SECONDARIES,
BAY: Broad, long		 BOWS:
Well rounded
WINGS:

Large, long, closely folded ... carried low and well back from front of breast ... tips trailing stern ... lower edges at ground

  

Shape of Female  
BACK:
Very short, broad in profile,
U-shaped		 NECK:
short, full,
tapered,
CUSHION:
Short, feathers broad and plentiful		 HACKLE:
Abundant, falling down over
back and cape
BODY:  short, very deep, compact ... stern:  fluff, short, abundant BREAST:
Broad, full, low, rounded, forward of plumb line from beak tip
Appearance:

Small, low built, broad and compact ... large head ... large, full feathered upright tail ... hardly visible legs

Legs: shortest of any breed of bantams (except creepers) ... widely set, thick, parallel to each other ... thighs, shanks and spurs are short ... toes:  four, straight, well spread and evenly scaled

COMB:
Single, large, upright, five points, arched		 FACE:  Smooth, full over eyes, fine texture, no wrinkles EYES:
Large, round, prominent
WATTLES:
Middle sized, rounded, no wrinkles		 EAR-LOBES:
Large, oval, smooth, no wrinkles		 BEAK:
Strong, stout, well curved
HEAD:
Broad, large in comparison
 to size of bird 
MAIN TAIL:
Feathers wide, well spread neatly overlapping, twice head height		 COVERTS:
Abundant, becoming broad as they flow well up the tail
   
TAIL:
Very large and upright, slightly forward of perpendicular (almost touching head)
SHOULDERS & FRONTS:
Partially hidden by hackle		 BARS (COVERTS):  Broad feathers form two bars
BOWS:
Well rounded		 PRIMARIES (hidden) & SECONDARIES,
BAY:  Broad, long
WINGS:
Large, long, closely folded ... carried low, back from front of breast ... tips trailing stern ... lower edges at ground