6.3-sun Go Floor Board – Aya National Forest Kaya, Single-piece, Straight-grain cut

About the Wood

This board is made from a single plank of kaya harvested from Aya National Forest in Miyazaki Prefecture. Master craftsman Kumasu Ken’ichi has described this forest in his own words: “This national forest sits along the central ridge of Kyushu. The seasonal temperature swings are wide, and much of the kaya here grows on steep, rocky terrain. Because growth is slow, the annual rings are tightly packed. The wood holds a great deal of resin, which gives it its redness — and the fragrance particular to kaya from this area is in a class of its own. It cannot be compared to kaya grown elsewhere.” These words are the reason this wood is chosen.

About the Straight Grain

This board is cut in masame — straight grain — where the log is cut toward the center, producing parallel lines running the full length of the board. The grain is fine and even, and together with the red tone of the wood, the playing surface has a composed and settled quality. Straight-grain boards are also dimensionally stable over time, which adds to the confidence of long-term ownership.

Thickness and Sound

The board is 6.3-sun thick (approximately 19.1 cm). It has the depth that a floor-standing Go board calls for. When a stone is placed, the sound carries through the full body of the wood. The elasticity of kaya, the faint fragrance it holds, and the resonance at this thickness — these are qualities that experienced players recognize immediately.

About the Legs

The legs are hand-carved by Kumasu craftsmen in the shape of the gardenia fruit — a traditional form with a quiet meaning behind it. The gardenia is known in Japanese as kuchinashi, written with characters meaning “no mouth.” The shape carries the idea that others should not speak into a player’s game. Few craftsmen in Japan still carve these legs by hand.

Aging Over Time

Kaya deepens gradually with use, moving toward a warm amber. This wood begins from a strong red — already rich before the transformation begins. Over the years, the color will settle and deepen into something that belongs entirely to the person who has lived with the board.

Choosing This Board

Single plank, straight grain, Aya National Forest kaya — 6.3-sun, no knots, fine grain, red tone. Kumasu Ken’ichi has simply called this “a very fine board.” The qualities of this forest — the tightly packed grain, the resin, the fragrance — are present here in full. Please take your time with it.

Each board is one of a kind.
Please contact us before placing an order to confirm availability.
For orders shipped outside Japan, customs duties or local taxes may be charged upon delivery depending on the destination country.