Shogi pieces craftsman "Kakuhou(隺峯)" made Mikurajima-hon-tsuge (Mikura Island grown boxwood) Moku Gado-syo (Gado script) mori-age (embossed) Shogi pieces SHK-KH503-01

Materials : Mikurajima-hon-tsuge (Mikura Island grown boxwood) /
Mikurajima is an island located in the central part of the Izu Islands (an area with many islands of various sizes) in Tokyo, Japan.
The quality of tsuge grown in the unique soil and climate is perfect for making shogi pieces.
Mikurajima Island is the most highly regarded tsuge producing area along with the Satsuma region of Kagoshima Prefecture, that produces Satsuma tsuge.
The hontsuge grown on Mikurajima Island is the best material for shogi pieces in terms of the color, luster, touch, weight, and texture of the wood.

Wood grain : Moku / "Moku" refers to the complex grain patterns and figures that rarely appear on the area of branching or close to the tree root in the forms of localized twists and curvatures, which are caused by the specific conditions and unique environment of where the tree grows.
"Moku" is a highly valued material because of its rarity, aesthetic value, and excellent decorative qualities.

Script：Gado-syo
Gadō-sho is a calligraphic style based on the writing of Nakazawa Gadō, a calligrapher from the Meiji period. The style takes its name from him and is now considered one of the most popular and esteemed typefaces used for shogi pieces.

Although Gadō's original works were not created with the intention of being used on shogi pieces, their elegance, strength, and the way they suit carving led to their widespread adoption in the shogi world.

Key characteristics of the Gadō style:
・Bold and dynamic brushstrokes: The thick, powerful lines ensure the characters stand out clearly, even on the small surface of a shogi piece.
・Elegant and dignified: The style carries a classical aesthetic and a commanding presence.
・Well-balanced and highly legible: This makes it suitable for both practical play and decorative appreciation.
・Each character is composed like a work of art, with exquisite control of line thickness and spacing.

Gadō-sho is a typeface that combines artistic beauty with practical function, making it one of the most standard and beloved styles in the world of shogi pieces.

Shogi pieces types : Mori-age(Embossed)
'Mori-age-koma' is a piece made by filling the engraved characters with lacquer, and after drying and polishing the surface flat, finishing by using a brush to add more lacquer on top of the engraved lacquer parts to give slightly raised characters.
*You can view the shogi piece production process through the images provided.

"Kakuho" studied piece making under Shogi pieces craftsman "Fugetsu," who is regarded as one of the top five masters of the modern era.
He is a genius who has an anecdote that he "finished all engraved and filled-in piece he was making into "mori-age pieces" after seeing a demonstration of lacquer heaping up by his master, Fugetsu.

In November 2018, pieces made by "Kakuhou" were used in the 3rd game of the 31st Ryuou-sen (Yoshiharu Habu Ryuou vs. Akito Hirose 8-dan), and he is one of the most popular and talented pawnmakers of our time.

The name of "Kakuhou" was given by his classmate, calligrapher Daishin Mochizuki, to express the image of a crane flying into the blue sky over a mountain range full of blooming wisteria flowers.
He is still in relentless pursuit of making better Shogi pieces, and is particularly particular about "Urushi (Japanese lacquer)," and his creed is to make beautiful pieces with the "lacquer black luster and shine" through repeated research and improvement.

Biography of "Kakuhou".
1952 Born in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
2012 At the "Fuji Koma no Kai" exhibition, he met "Fugetsu" and became a piece maker.
2015 Introduced his pieces in the magazine "Shogi Sekai".
2016 His Shogi pieces covered The Shogi Federation's calendar with Shogi pieces made by "Fugetsu".
Production pieces used in the making of the Kadokawa film "Sei no Seishun" (The Youth of the Sacred).
2017 Appeared in UTYTV's "Yamanashi Imajin" and "News Star Special".
2018 Featured in Asahi Newspaper Yamanashi edition.
Live appearance on YBS Radio "Kicks".
Interviewed by NHK Shizuoka and later aired on the Shizuoka edition of "NHK Special".
Participated in the inspection of pieces for the 3rd game of the 31st Ryuoh Tournament (Yoshiharu Habu vs. Akito Hirose 8-dan) at Kashima Jingu Shrine, where Mikurashima Hon Tsuge Akamasa Kinki-syo pieces were used.
2020 "Rintaru Bikoma/Shogi Piece Exhibition" started at "Museum Tsuru".
Featured in NHK's National Program "Witness Japan" (Japanese only).
"Rintaru Bikoma/Shogi Piece Exhibition" featured in "Monthly Magazine Shogi Sekai April Edition" (Japanese only).
Appearance on NHK National TV Program "Reversing Life" (Japanese only).

• Shogi pieces craftsman "Kakuhou(隺峯)" made Mikurajima-hon-tsuge (Mikura Island grown boxwood) Moku Gado-syo (Gado script) mori-age (embossed) Shogi pieces
  Product No.：SHK-KH503-01
  Shogi pieces in a paulownia flat box
  *Includes 2 extra pawn pieces ("amari-fu").


• 1,000 JPY flat rate shipping within Japan, free shipping for purchases totaling 20,000 JPY or more.
  Please bear the actual cost for shipping charges outside Japan.