5.75-sun Go Floor Board – Shimane Kaya, Single-piece, Straight-grain cut

About the Wood

This board is made from a single plank of kaya grown in the mountains of Shimane Prefecture. Kaya from this region develops its character slowly in a demanding natural environment, producing wood with tightly packed annual rings. The tone leans toward yellow, but the grain is fine and even throughout — a quiet expression of the wood’s quality. The elasticity and resonance that make kaya suited to Go boards are present here, as they are in any well-grown kaya.

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 fine, even grain gives the playing surface a composed, settled appearance. Straight-grain boards are also dimensionally stable over time, which contributes to their suitability for long-term use.

Thickness and Sound

The board is 5.75-sun thick (approximately 17.4 cm). This is a substantial floor board with a presence that suits the scale of the game. Kaya absorbs the impact of a placed stone and returns it as sound through the body of the wood. Greater thickness lends a steadiness to that response.

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 from its initial tone toward a warm amber. The yellow of this board will slowly settle into something richer over the years. The evenness of the grain means the surface changes as a whole, without one area drawing more attention than another.

Choosing This Board

Single plank, straight grain, Shimane kaya — 5.75-sun, no knots, fine and even grain, yellow tone. This is a board where the qualities speak simply and directly, without needing much introduction. Whether you are choosing your first quality Go board or looking for one that will last a lifetime, this board offers a clear, honest place to start.

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.