5.6-sun Go 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 harvested from the Aya National Forest in Miyazaki Prefecture. The trees growing in this region develop slowly in steep, rocky terrain, enduring wide seasonal temperature swings. This slow growth concentrates the wood’s natural elasticity and fragrance — qualities that define what kaya can be at its best.

About the Construction

This is a single-plank board, cut directly from one log without lamination. The natural character of the wood appears as it is across the entire surface.

About the Wood Grain

This board is cut in itame — flat grain — using the outer face of the log, known as the back face. Flat-grain boards show more movement in the grain and express the natural character of the wood more freely than straight-grain boards. The back face has growth rings facing outward, and the surface gradually tightens with use over time.

Color and Aging

The board has a calm yellow tone. The playing surface is in very clean condition. With use, kaya deepens gradually toward the warm amber it is known for, and the board’s character will grow with it. There are resin pockets at both ends of the board. These are small cavities where resin collected inside the tree during its growth — a natural part of how the wood formed. They do not affect the playing surface or the performance of the board.

About the Legs

The legs are carved by hand in the shape of a gardenia fruit. The gardenia in Japanese is kuchinashi — meaning “no mouth.” The shape carries a quiet message: that when two players face each other across the board, no one else should speak. Few craftsmen in Japan still carve these legs by hand.

Choosing This Board

The playing surface is clean, with no knots. For those who can accept the resin pockets at both ends, this board — Aya National Forest kaya, single plank, 5.6 sun thick — is worth serious consideration. The resin pockets are traces the wood carried naturally from its life in the forest. They do not diminish the board.

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.