This enormous Kaya goban came to Baduk Club from an antique shop in Osaka, Japan. It is almost 70 years old.
The board is 19.5cm thick. It has a warm yellow color and a sweet scent, both consistent with Kaya wood. The protective paulownia lid has seen better days and needs to be reglued, but it has done its job.
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. There is a slight rise in the center, demonstrated with a level in one photo, and this is common with plain-sawn boards over time. A warm heartwood color is consistent across the board. The white wax residue we see here and there is a good sign, and that will clear up easily with a clean cotton cloth. Visit my Care Instructions to learn more about cleaning and caring for floor boards.
Kaya boards are cured for 10 years before they are made, which ensures that the wood has finished changing shape. That would have been about 80 years ago in 1946. Cracks do appear, but they should not be worried about - these form where pith rays existed within the trunk of the tree. One of the big benefits of a vintage board like this is that it has had decades to reach a stable shape. Calligraphy on the underside indicates that it was made or purchased by Kenji Matsumoto in 1956.
Kaya wood is soft so it provides a gentle sound when playing stones (slate and shell preferred), in contrast to the sharp sound that comes from hard materials like glass on bamboo.
This is far thicker than most Kaya boards, so it is very heavy. Packaged up with the legs and lid, it will likely be over 50 pounds (23 kg) so this is factored into the price as shipping is already included. The corners and edges are all quite good. The legs are Kaya as well and display very fancy double shoulders. There is some calligraphy on the underside. Please see the photos for details of the specific condition.
Please understand that this is a Vintage item. Because of the state of the board and lid it is sold at a discount.
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.
