3-sun Shogi Table Board – Yakushima Kaya, Single-piece, Straight-grain cut

About the Wood

This board is made from a single plank of kaya grown on Yakushima Island, off the southern coast of Kagoshima. Yakushima kaya rarely appears on the market — it surfaces occasionally at auctions in Kagoshima, but perhaps once in a decade. The island’s climate and terrain have shaped this wood into something distinct from mainland Kyushu kaya. Its reddish tone and bold grain are the result of the island’s long, unhurried growing conditions.

About the Construction

This is a single-plank board, cut directly from one log. Unlike laminated boards, the natural character of the wood appears as it is across the entire surface.

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 the full length of the board. The combination of bold grain and straight-cut lines gives this board a strong, quiet presence.

Thickness and Feel

The board is 3-sun 2-bu 5-rin thick (approximately 9.8 cm). This is on the thicker end for a table board, offering a well-balanced feel between weight and the sensation when placing pieces. For a table board, the sound when pieces are placed carries a solid, grounded tone.

Aging and Natural Characteristics

There are no knots on this board. The playing surface is clear, and the character of the Yakushima kaya shows directly in the grain. The reddish tone will shift and deepen with use, developing into a finish particular to this board alone.

Choosing This Board

A shogi board made from Yakushima kaya is uncommon — not because it is being offered as a rarity, but simply because the wood rarely becomes available at all. The question worth asking is whether the warmth and strength of this particular wood feels right as your board. That is where the consideration starts.

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.