Wood craftsman Mr. Kawashita made Yakusugi Hon-in-bo shape Go Bowls with Oil Burl for ~Size 38 Go Stones JAC-YBK-502-GK38-01

These Go bowls are wood craftsman Mr. Kawashita made Yakusugi Hon-in-bo shape Go Bowls with Oil Burl for ~Size 38 Go Stones.
These Go bowls can hold Go stones up to size 38.

These Go bowls are crafted from "Abura-kobu / Oil Burl" Yakusugi (Yakushima cedar) wood, estimated to be approximately 2,000 years old.
"Kobu / Burl" forms when a tree sustains damage or undergoes abnormal growth, causing resin to accumulate and create a raised, knot-like structure.
Among these, "Abura-kobu / Oil Burl" refers to sections that contain particularly high amounts of resin and natural oils.
Yakusugi Oil Burl is highly prized for its exceptional beauty and is often used in the finest woodworking pieces.

The shape is the "Hon-in-bo style", which is modeled after the nodes of bamboo.
Usually, the joint between the lid and the bowl is finished with a uniform shape, allowing the lid to rotate.
However, these Go bowls are crafted with gently undulating curves at the overlapping section of the lid and the bowl, ensuring that it closes at a fixed position.
Go bowls with this kind of design are extremely rare in the market, making this a truly unique piece.
It is a masterpiece that showcases the exceptional craftsmanship of woodworking artisan Mr. Kawashita.

About "Hon-in-bo" shape
The typical round shape of Go bowls is called the "Yasui shape", but in fact, the "Hon-in-bo shape" has a longer history.
Before the "Yasui shape" emerged, the "Hon-in-bo shape" was the mainstream design.
As you can see in the images, the shape of the "Hon-in-bo shape" bowl resembles bamboo.
It is said that the "Honinbo style" originated from the practice of cutting bamboo nodes to use them as containers for Go stones in ancient times.
While the common "Yasui shape" has a beautiful form, the distinctive and traditional "Hon-in-bo shape" remains a popular choice among Go enthusiasts.

Yakusugi, a type of Japanese cedar from Yakushima Island, is an exceptionally rare and highly valuable wood.
Since Yakushima was designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, the logging of Yakusugi has been strictly prohibited, making it extremely difficult to obtain new material.
Its intricate and delicate grain possesses an elegant beauty that never ceases to captivate, attracting dedicated Yakusugi collectors from around the world.
Yakusugi is widely known as a premium material for tables and fine furnishings.
Due to its natural beauty and rarity, it is also highly valued as a material for Go bowls.

This is the only piece available.
Please check the photo images.