This set came to Baduk Club from a reseller in Japan.
The board is a single-piece of Kaya, cut in the Plain-sawn style (Itame). This cutting style shows off the endgrain where you will sit, so you can view the beautiful heartwood. The sides feature straight lines, and the playing surface will be unique like a fingerprint. This cut is used when the tree is not large enough to be quarter-sawn, and then the Kiomote surface is decided based on the presence of knots (a small one is visible on the underside). Kaya is dense, so it is very heavy, and it also carries a sweet scent particular to its resin. The legs are the same color as the board. The edges and corners are in great shape. The board has some white wax residue, which is a good sign - this will clear up with a cotton cloth. The wood has some pith rays in the endgrain and on the underside - these are paths the wood uses to transfer water and nutrients. If you live in a dry climate, you will want to care for the board to avoid cracks forming along these lines.
The bowls are chestnut with their original finish. Chestnut is a dark wood with dramatic grain patterns, but also a light wood prone to drying out over time.
The stones are size 25 slate and shell (about 7mm). It is almost a full set, missing a single stone of each color. These are vintage items so some wear may be present.
Shipping Details:
Airmail shipping from Japan with FedEx International Priority is already included, there will be no additional fee at checkout.
You can downgrade to Surface shipping to save $40 by using the discount code JAPANPOST at checkout. This will be at your own risk, as the Surface Shipping transit time is up to 3 months.
In either case, please allow one week for packing and Customs, then we will email you a tracking number from the shipping service that you can use to sign up for notifications.
