4.4-sun Shogi Floor Board – Aya National Forest Kaya, Single-piece, Flat-grain cut (back face)

About the Wood

This board is made from a single plank of kaya sourced from Aya National Forest in Miyazaki Prefecture. Growing slowly in rocky terrain under a dense forest canopy, the wood develops tight grain, natural elasticity, and a distinctive fragrance. This particular plank has a strong reddish tone — a character that comes directly from where it grew.

About the Construction

The board is cut from a single log, with no lamination. The natural character of the wood appears as it is across the entire surface — flat grain, a warm red tone, and a presence that feels rooted and direct.

About the Flat Grain

This board is cut in itame, or flat-grain — a method where the log is cut away from the center, producing a curved, flowing pattern across the surface. The playing surface uses the outer face of the log, known as the wood-back cut. Flat-grain boards have a different character from straight-grain: more expressive, more alive in the way the wood presents itself. The grain pattern across this board is part of what makes it its own.

Thickness and Feel

The board is 4.4-sun thick (approximately 13.3 cm). At this thickness, the board carries a steady weight and presence. Each piece placed on the surface sends a clear resonance through the body of the wood.

Aging and Natural Characteristics

There is a crack at the wood end, formed naturally during the drying process. According to our craftsman, this will not widen further. Kaya changes to a warm amber over time, but this board has already been through many years — further change will be gradual and quiet.

Choosing This Board

Aya National Forest kaya, flat-grain (wood-back cut), single plank, 4.4-sun. A strong reddish tone and an expressive grain pattern — honest in its character. For those who can accept the crack at the wood end and the qualities of flat-grain wood, this is a board we can recommend plainly for what it is and where it comes from.

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.