602-TWC-KS-04 Wood craftsman "Kai-shi (懐志)" made "Kusu / Camphor" Go bowls Moku for size 30 - 36 Go stones GKKSM-SB36-601-02F

Kusu (camphor wood) is one of Japan’s representative hardwoods and has long been widely used for furniture, architectural materials, and traditional crafts.
As camphor trees mature, they grow into large trees capable of yielding high-quality timber suitable for detailed workmanship, which has made them valuable across many fields.

One of the most distinctive features of camphor wood is its unique fragrance.
A natural crystalline aromatic substance extracted from the camphor tree is known as camphor, and it has been closely connected to daily life in Japan since ancient times.
With its fresh, characteristic scent and strong insect-repellent and anti-decay properties, it has traditionally been used for Buddhist altars and for protecting kimono and clothing when placed in chests and wardrobes.

The wood color is a slightly greenish brown, and when finished as Go bowls it presents a calm, warm appearance.
It offers an excellent balance of hardness and lightness and is easy to work with, making it well suited for wooden products such as furniture, vessels, and Go bowls.

Over the years, the color and luster deepen, and while the fragrance gradually softens, the natural beauty of the grain becomes even more pronounced. For this reason, it is highly valued as a material that can be enjoyed and used for many years.

“Moku” (figured grain) refers to distinctive, decorative grain patterns that appear on the surface of wood.
Unlike ordinary straight grain or annual ring patterns, figured grain is created by irregular changes in the wood’s structure that occur naturally during growth, and is often described as nature’s own artwork.
Common types of figured grain include tiger figure, blister figure, burl figure, and bird’s-eye figure, each showing unique expressions such as stripe-like patterns, bubble-like clusters, or complex swirls formed around knots and burls.

Because figured grain cannot be artificially reproduced and results from natural, individual growth conditions, no two patterns are exactly alike, allowing you to enjoy truly one-of-a-kind beauty.
Another appealing feature is how its appearance changes depending on the angle of light, creating a sense of depth and movement.
Due to its rarity and visual richness, figured wood has long been prized for high-end furniture, musical instruments, tea utensils, and fine crafts. In the world of Go and Shogi, it is also used for boards, bowls, and piece boxes, adding special value to each item.
Figured grain, shaped by nature itself, brings unique character and refined elegance to wooden works.

Long-established business founded in Kansei Era (around 1790)
"Kai-shi (懐志)", a long-established woodworking company, was founded in the Kansei era (around 1790).
When the company was first established, it made trays, wooden plates, and other tableware, but later, when it was commissioned to make Go bowls, it became a woodworking company specializing in Go bowls.
The word "Kai-shi (懐志)" expresses their desire to "never forget the techniques handed down from generation to generation and our sincere efforts to make Go bowls, and to carve our thoughts into our own bosom with high aspirations."
Currently, the fourth generation of the family, who has devoted 65 years of his life to making Go bowls, is devoting himself to making Go bowls every day.

The essence of "Kai-shi (懐志)" 4th generation's Go bowls making is to maximize the beauty of the material, wood, and to create Go bowls that combine practicality and artistry.
Facing each material one by one and checking the feel of it in their fingertips and palms, they transform the wood into a Go bowls.
And the proof of this is the engraving of "Kai-shi (懐志)" on the bottom of the Go bowls.

All the tools for making Go bowls are handmade.
All necessary tools are customize.
*Please check the photo images.

• Wood craftsman "Kai-shi (懐志)" made "Kusu / Camphor" Go bowls for size 30 - 36 Go stones
  Product No.：GKKSM-SB36-601-02F
  Conformity Go stone for size：size 30 - 36
  Size：Go Bowl / Diameter About 150 mm × Height About 105 mm
  Outer box size: approx. 315 × 170 × 120 mm (H × W × D)
  Weight：Go Bowls / 1 pair About 510 g
  Total Weight / About 800 g
  
• 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.
  

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