November 17th, "Shogi Day" Special Board craftsman Mr. Torayoshi YOSHIDA made Japan grown kaya Shogi board with legs Kiura 4.1-Sun (about 126 mm thick) No.84003F *Off-spec 411-SBL-05

In Japan, November 17th is celebrated as "Shogi Day" to honor the traditional Japanese board game, shogi, which has a long history dating back to ancient times.
This day is an opportunity for shogi enthusiasts, professional players, and beginners alike to celebrate the unique strategies and techniques that make shogi a beloved cultural pastime in Japan.
On Shogi Day, various events are held nationwide, including special matches with professional shogi players, instructional workshops for beginners, and tournaments for amateurs.
Schools and community centers may also host events to introduce the game to new players, fostering an appreciation for this intellectual and strategic game.
Shogi is often referred to as "Japanese chess," but it has its own distinctive pieces and rules, including the ability to use captured pieces as one's own, making it a dynamic and complex game.
With a dedicated fan base, shogi continues to gain popularity worldwide, and Shogi Day offers a chance to deepen appreciation and understanding of the game’s depth.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or a curious beginner, November 17th is the perfect day to immerse yourself in the world of shogi and experience the beauty and challenge of this traditional Japanese game.

Yoshida Gobanten was established in 1916 and continuously made various Go and Shogi boards for more than 100years.
The owner takes over the name of 'Master Yoshida Torayoshi' for generations.
All the boards made by the 3rd and 4th generation of Yoshida Torayoshi, the present owner, have engraved words of Ichi-jo (一如) in Chinese character, as the evidence of his work.
The word 'Ichi-jo' is a part of famous four-character idiom 'Busshin Ichi-nyo (物心一如)', that literally means 'matter and mind are one/body and mind as one'.
This implies a strong will that when we make boards, our board and mind are as one.
The engraved words 'Ichi-jo (一如)' is the evidence of Go master, who made this board with his spirit and board as one.
We are happy to offer these special boards made by the Go board master Mr. YOSHIDA Torayoshi, for his devotion and his long years of experience and outstanding technique.

”Kiura” cutting style applies to the center (core) of the log and itame (flat grain) appears on the top surface of the board.
The top surface has masame (straight grain) at both ends and an oval or bamboo shoot-like pattern or irregular itame pattern in the center.
Itame (flat grain) appears on the top surface.
This is the most valuable cutting style of the itame wood.

*Go board cutting styles are explained detail in "How to choose a board".
Please take a look.
Go to "How to choose a board".

Kaya is regarded as one of the best materials to make Go and Shogi boards, because of its good sound and feel when placing the stones, moderate elasticity, beautiful grain, color, gloss and luster, and aroma.
There are three types of kaya trees: "Hyuga Kaya" which is grown and harvested in a mountainous area in the southern part of Kyushu, Japan, "Japanese-grown honkaya" which is grown in other areas of Japan, and "Chinese-grown honkaya" which is mainly grown in Yunnan Province, China.
Generally, Japanese-grown honkaya is said to be better than Chinese honkaya in terms of quality.
The main difference between Japanese and Chinese kaya is the wood quality, caused by the natural environment where the tree was grown. Japanese kaya is usually lighter and more yellowish in color and has a unique wood aroma.
Depending on your preference, Japanese kaya is generally more highly valued than Chinese kaya, and the value and price of Japanese kaya tends to be higher due to the rarity of the wood.

In order to make a one-piece Go/Shogi board or board with legs, it is necessary to get a large tree between 200 and 800 years old.However, since logging is now prohibited in many forests in Japan, large-diameter kaya wood is almost impossible to find on the market.
The procurement of kaya is becoming more and more difficult and the Japanese honkaya Go board is getting rarer year on year.

*Go board materials are explained detail in "How to choose a board".
Please take a look.
Go to "How to choose a board".

It is becoming more and more difficult to obtain Japan grown kaya wood.

There are stains of wood origin throughout.
This board’s wood cutting style is "Kiura", so top and bottom surface has Itame part.
The bottom and one side has some cracks.
The top has some intergrown knots, wood bark remnants and stain part.
The bottom has some intergrown knots and some color spots derived from the wood materials.
The cutting side has some intergrown knots and stain part.
The side has some intergrown knots, wood bark remnants and scratches.
*Please check the photo images.

• Product : board craftsman Mr. Torayoshi YOSHIDA made Shogi board with legs
  Kiura 4.1 sun / 12.6cm thick
  Item No.84003F
• Size (height × width × thick × legs)
  369 mm × 338 mm × 126 mm × 90 mm
• Weight : About 8.7 kg
• Included：Certificate


• Please bear the actual cost for shipping charges outside Japan.

You may find small knots, burrs, rolled-in bark as all these products are made of natural trees.
There may be some small flaw or scratch, dent, chipping.