7.65-sun Shogi Floor Board – Kyushu Kaya, Single-piece, Straight-grain cut

About the Wood

This board is made from a single plank of kaya grown in Kyushu. The grain is not particularly fine — the craftsman described it plainly as “wide-grained, but running evenly from one end to the other.” That evenness is the character of this board: not delicate, but steady and strong. Kaya has been used for shogi and Go boards for centuries, valued for its moderate elasticity, distinctive sound when pieces are placed, and the way it deepens slowly to a warm amber tone with use.

About the Construction

This is a single-plank board, cut directly from one log. Unlike laminated boards, the natural character of the wood appears across the entire surface without interruption.

About the Straight Grain

This board is cut in masame, or straight grain — a method where the log is cut toward the center, producing parallel lines running along the length of the board. The lines here are wider than those found on fine-grained boards, but they run without deviation across the full surface.

Thickness and Feel

The board is 7.65-sun thick (approximately 23.2 cm). This places it among the thicker shogi floor boards. The craftsman used the word “presence” to describe it — and that is the right word. Set in a room, the board commands its surroundings. The sound and sensation of placing pieces carry a depth that only this kind of thickness can produce.

Aging and Natural Characteristics

There are no knots on this board. The playing surface and sides present no particular irregularities. The yellow tone of the wood will deepen gradually into the warm amber characteristic of aged kaya. With wider grain lines, the surface develops a distinctive richness as the years pass.

Choosing This Board

Wide, even grain — not fine, but consistent. A thickness of 7.65-sun, which puts this board near the top of the range for shogi floor boards. No knots, and a clean surface throughout. For those who value presence and weight in a shogi board, this is a piece worth considering.

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.