Although the head appears long and finely chiselled, it forms almost a perfect equilateral triangle (the triangle does not include the ears) with gentle curving lines, high cheekbones and a noticeable whisker break, the nose long and well-defined by two parallel lines from tip to brow with a gentle dip at, or just below, the eye level. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud cat.

Medium in size, males proportionately larger than females. Torso long, lean and elegant, not tubular, showing well developed muscular strength without coarseness. No inclination towards flabbiness or cobbiness. General balance of utmost importance.

In keeping with the body, long, slender and high, but not dainty or fragile in appearance. The hind legs are noticeably longer than the front legs, but deeply angulated to bend when the cat is standing relaxed so that the torso remains nearly level rather than rising towards the rear. When standing the cat’s front legs and shoulders form two continuous straight lines, close together.

Length medium-long to long, texture soft and silky, with no noticeable undercoat in the mature adult. Frontal ruff desirable. Coat may be shorter and close lying over the shoulders, gradually lengthening toward the rump, with noticeable longer hair on the tail and rear britches. Ear and toe tufts desirable. Coat should lie so as to accent the lines of the body.

The tail is unique not only to the breed, but to each individual cat. This is to be used as a guideline, rather than promoting one specific type of tail out of the many that occurs within the breed.
The tail must be clearly visible and is composed of one or more curves, angles, or kinks or any combination thereof. The furthest extension of the tail bone from the body should be no longer than three inches. The direction in which the tail is carried is not important. The tail may be flexible or rigid and should be of a size and shape that harmonizes with the rest of the cat.

In keeping with Japan’s traditional mi-ke (mee-kay) cats, which are tri-coloured black, red and white, the preferred breeding colours are those that tend to produce tri-coloured females.
In bi-colours and tri-colours any colour may predominate with preference given to bold, dramatic markings and vividly contrasting colours. In the solid colour cat the coat colour should be of uniform density and colour from the tip to the root of each hair and from the nose of the cat to the tail. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye colour should harmonise generally with coat colour. Blue eyes and odd eyes are allowed.