Contemporary Master Go board Craftsman Mr.Kumasu made Yakusugi(Yakushima Cedar) table Go board with figured grain Oily burl 1.8-Sun(thickness: approx. 57 mm) No.77012F *Off-spec

This is a Yakusugi table Go board oily burl with figured grain (1.8-Sun, single board) crafted by Kenichi Kumasu, a Contemporary Master Craftsman of Japan (Gendai no Meikō) *Off-spec.
This board is made from oil-figured wood (abura-ryu) that comes from a tree estimated to be over 3,000 years old, making it an extremely rare piece.

Unfortunately, there are several cracks on the top surface and the cutting sides.
Please check the images for details.
Because oil-figured wood is extremely dense and heavy, this board weighs about 9 kilograms despite being only 1.8-Sun (approximately 5.5 cm) thick.
As it is made entirely from oil-figured wood, not only the top surface but also the bottom, ends, and sides display delicate and intricate grain patterns, giving it a unique appearance distinct from ordinary Go boards.
A board of this exceptional quality is extraordinarily rare and unlikely to be produced again in the future.
On the bottom side, you will find the inscription and seal of “Yakusugi – Crafted by Contemporary Master Craftsman Kenichi Kumasu.”
The lines are drawn using high-quality domestic natural lacquer (hon-urushi) in the tachi-mori style, resulting in an excellent finish.
A paulownia wood presentation box is included, whose inner lid bears the handwritten inscription and seal of “Crafted by Contemporary Master Craftsman Kenichi Kumasu.”

This Go board is made from the extremely rare Yakusugi cedar, specially crafted by Kenichi Kumasu, one of Japan’s modern master board makers.
While straight-grain (masame) wood is generally considered ideal for Go boards, Yakusugi cedar has very limited straight-grain material.
To make the most of its richly varied and beautiful grain and color, this board was intentionally made using flat-grain (omote or ura) wood.

Yakusugi—cedar from Yakushima Island—is an exceptionally rare and precious wood, as logging has been strictly prohibited since Yakushima was designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
Its complex and delicate grain patterns possess a timeless elegance and depth, admired by collectors around the world.
Yakusugi is widely known as a premium material for fine furniture and decorative crafts, and due to its natural beauty and rarity, it is also highly valued as a material for Go boards.

Only this one piece is available.
Please check the images for details.