Description
Gracilised variant of the Manchu-Korean type, named after the old Japanese Choshu Domain. Once common in Chinese-Korean aristocracy. Today mainly found in Japan. Can be placed in North Sinid. Probably developed through selection of gracile female features in marriages of the noble circles.
In its purest form along the west coast of Honshu, but found across all Japanese islands and sometimes in Korea. This type represents a refined East Asian phenotype that developed through generations of selective breeding within aristocratic families.
Physical Traits
Height: Rather short to medium
Build: Macroskelic, ectomorph
Skull: Mesocephalic, sometimes dolichocephalic
Cranial height: Mildly hypsicranic
Nose: Mildly leptorrhine, sometimes convex
Face: Narrow and elongated
Mouth: Small
Eyes: Oblique, often with epicanthic fold
Skin: Light to brownish yellow
Hair: Coarse, straight
The Choshiu type exhibits a gracile, elongated facial structure that distinguishes it from more robust East Asian types. The narrow face with small mouth and oblique eyes represents a refined phenotype. The mesocephalic to sometimes dolichocephalic skull shape, combined with the mildly hypsicranic cranial height, creates an elegant profile. The ectomorphic build with macroskelic proportions (relatively long legs) adds to the overall gracile appearance.
Literature References
Defined and named early by Baelz (1883), the name was kept by Eickstedt (1952c), Saller (1949), Weinert (1965), Vallois (1971) and others. Lundman (1967) equated it with the Yakonin type, who was seen a rare modification by others (Klenke, 1938). Matsumoto's (1921) Chikuzen type is similar, but closer to Satsuma.
