7.35-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 the Aya National Forest in Miyazaki Prefecture. The kaya that grows in this forest tends to develop tightly packed growth rings — shaped by rocky terrain and slow, unhurried growth — resulting in wood with dense grain and deep, layered color. This particular plank is from the red-toned range of the material. Red kaya is comparatively rare, and carries a strength and depth that yellow or white-toned pieces do not. The character of the forest is present in the board.

About the Construction

This is a single-plank board, cut directly from one log. The natural character of the wood appears across the entire surface without interruption. The density and structural unity of a single plank translate directly into how the board feels when set in place and how it responds when pieces are played. There is a coherence to a single-piece board that laminated construction cannot replicate.

About the Flat Grain, Back Face

This board is cut in itame-kiura — flat grain, back face. The back face refers to the outer side of the log, closer to the bark. When this face is brought to the surface, the growth rings appear as wide, sweeping arcs across the board — curves and flowing lines rather than the parallel verticals of straight grain. Back-face cutting also has a structural advantage: as the wood dries, the natural tension of the grain tends to resist warping. The craftsman selects this cut based on the characteristics of the individual plank, not as a default. On a plank with strong, bold grain like this one, the result is a surface with a presence that straight grain cannot produce.

Thickness and Feel

The board is 7.35-sun thick (approximately 22.3 cm). This places it near the upper end of floor boards in terms of sheer substance. When set in place, the board occupies the room differently than thinner pieces. At this thickness, the sound of a placed piece resonates through the interior of the board — deep, composed, with a quietness at the end of the tone. The weight of the wood supports the sound. This is what people mean when they speak of the thickness of a shogi board as something you feel, not just measure.

Aging and Natural Characteristics

There are very few knots. The surface is open and uninterrupted — the flat grain speaks for itself. The reddish tone will deepen with use, settling into a rich, warm darkness over years of play. Aya kaya often carries natural oils that, with continued use, polish the surface from within. This board is built for time.

About the Hand-carved Legs

The legs are hand-carved in the shape of the gardenia fruit — a traditional form for shogi board legs, carrying the meaning that no one should interfere in another’s match. Few craftsmen in Japan still carve these legs by hand.

Choosing This Board

A single plank of Aya National Forest kaya, flat grain back face, reddish tone, bold grain. This is not the composed formality of straight grain — it is something more open, more immediate. The wood is present in a different way. At ¥440,000, the price reflects material, thickness, and craftsmanship arriving together at a particular level. This board belongs in the hands of someone drawn to the expressive quality of flat grain, someone with a specific interest in Aya kaya, or someone choosing a board to keep for the rest of their life. There is no urgency in the decision. Look at the photographs, read what is here, and see whether this board’s particular character fits what you are looking for.

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.