I take it to mean that the Hyuga kaya trees are much older and bigger than those from other areas of Japan.Īccording to Kiseido: "Kaya trees are found all over Japan. From this part about 70 boards can usually be made from Miyazaki kaya, while kaya from other areas gives about 50 boards because of a shorter bole." "There is considerable wastage on a tree because only the bole below the first branch is used, to avoid knots (although incipient knots may still be found there). Good kaya is obtainable elsewhere, but generally the more northern trees have a whiter colour and less elasticity." Is it mostly about conspicuous consumption, i.e., showing others that one has the wealth to purchase a Hyuga-kaya board?Ĭould anyone enlighten me on this subject (perhaps tchan, the local equipment expert)?Īccording to JF in the book The Go Player's Almanac 2001 in his article A Survey of the Best in Go Equipment: "The reason Miyazaki kaya (also called Hyuga kaya from the old name for Miyazaki) is superior has to do with the climate and soil, which are favourably affected by the Kuroshio current (the Japan current). Normally, I would suppose that it is just a supply issue, but if Hon-kaya and Hyuga-kaya are roughly interchangeable, then the supply issue may be overstated. I don't plan on buying a board (not any time soon.), but the huge price gap tickled my curiosity. Kuroki makes some fine boards, so perhaps the difference would be more noticeable if a lesser craftsman were to handle the wood. Is there some quality that I am missing? I've read that Hyuga-kaya has closer grains, but I can't really tell the difference from the pictures on KGT. However, is the price just due to the low supply?įrom the photos posted on KGT, I cannot really tell the difference between the finest Hon-kaya boards and Hyuga-kaya boards. They grow slowly and cannot be harvested without government approval. Apparently these, kaya trees in the Hyuga region are protected by environmental regulations. Is there a particular quality possessed by Huyga-kaya boards that Hon-kaya boards cannot achieve?įrom what I can see, Hyuga-kaya boards are made using kaya trees harvested in the Hyuga region. I was browsing through Kuroki Goishi Ten (henceforth KGT) and had a question.
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