This enormous shogi board came to Baduk Club from a reseller in Kanagawa, Japan.
The board is Kaya, the premier wood for such boards, and it is an impressive 17.7cm thick. It has a warm yellow color and a sweet scent, both consistent with Kaya wood. Darker red notes can be seen in the grain, this is from Kaya's natural resin and is an indicator that this is Hyuga Kaya from southern Japan.
A plain-sawn board like this produces beautiful end-grain where both players will sit, showing off the growth rings of the tree. This cutting style is called Kiura Itame, and is what we see on the majority of Kaya boards. This board is far thicker than most Kaya boards, so it is very heavy (over 10kg). The grid is lacquer, made with tachimori.
Kaya boards are cured for 10 years before they are made, which ensures that the wood has finished changing shape. Vertical pith rays travel out from the center of the trunk to deliver water, and we can see those in the endgrain. Sudden environmental changes like reduced humidity can cause cracks to form along the lines of pith rays, so please visit my Care Instructions to learn more about cleaning and caring for floor boards.
Please understand that this is a Vintage item. It's standing dimensions are 33cm wide, 37cm long, and 28cm high.
Shipping Details:
FedEx International Priority shipping from Japan is already included for free. Please allow a week for packing and Customs preparations, then we will email you the tracking number so that you can sign up for shipping notifications.
