6.1-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. Kaya has been used for shogi and Go boards for centuries, valued for its moderate elasticity and distinctive sound when pieces are placed. The board has a clear, warm yellow tone — a natural quality of this particular piece of wood.

About the Construction

The board is cut from a single log, with no lamination. The natural character of the wood appears directly across the surface — straight grain, a calm yellow tone, and a clean, undistracted face.

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. Straight-grain boards are valued for their formal, steady appearance and dimensional stability over time.

Thickness and Feel

The board is 6.1-sun thick (approximately 18.5 cm). This places it among the thicker end of floor-standing shogi boards. At this thickness, the sound and resonance change noticeably — each piece is absorbed into the full body of the wood.

Aging and Natural Characteristics

There is a blue-toned discoloration at the wood end, caused by a naturally occurring microorganism during the drying process. This does not affect the strength or quality of the wood. As kaya deepens to a warm amber with use over the years, the contrast at the end gradually becomes less visible.

Choosing This Board

Kyushu Kaya, straight-grain, single plank, 6.1-sun. A clean surface with no knots, a calm yellow tone, and the sound of a board that carries real weight. For those who can accept the blue marking at the wood end, this is a board worth considering seriously for what it offers at this thickness.

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.