Life In 19x19

Yeah, I don't think it can be kaya as kaya has that very distinctive yellow quality to it.

Thank you for the complement on my board. I really love it, and I played my first game on
it this past weekend, and thank you all for your advice and opinions

Regarding KUROKI GOISHITEN, there are several pages at their website to look for the desired 9.2mm (size 33) stones:
1) "Clamshell Go Stones" (which you already discovered is sold out),
2) "Best Buy of the Month" which doesn't list size 33, but does have standard grade size 35 (9.8mm) stones for 26,000JPY, and
3) "Outlet" which does have standard grade size 33 stones for 14,000JPY, or slightly smaller size 31 (8.8mm) but higher quality snow grade for 20,000JPY

From what I can decipher from the descriptions, these prices do not include shipping--there may be a link which will tell you the cost to ship from Japan to your door.

I personally have not purchased stones from them, but many others have posted here that they were satisfied with the service and quality of KG slate and shell stones. HTH,

I don't know for certain what kind of wood was used to make this board. I am sure it isn't genuine kaya. I have some doubts about katsura, the color of the board has too much red in it. All of the katsura boards I have seen have a tan color which darkens with age but has no red coloration at all. I guess it might be a refinished katsura board. Most agathis boards have a red-brown color on the sides and the feet but they also usually have a light colored wash (paint) on the top and the grain is tighter.

schwartzseer wrote:Regarding KUROKI GOISHITEN...
I personally have not purchased stones from them, but many others have posted here that they were satisfied with the service and quality of KG slate and shell stones.

Kuroki's shell stones are excellent and Mr. Kuroki is very helpful.
You can also ask about their Size 38 (10.7 mm) shell stones, standard grade.

In regards to the houston players bit. I happen to be a houston player myself As for others, i'm not entirely sure who exactly. i know there's some out there, and on KGS, we have the Texas Go Players room, but as for other meetings around town, i'm not aware of any current ones. What side of the city do you reside in?

BongoBob wrote:In regards to the houston players bit. I happen to be a houston player myself As for others, i'm not entirely sure who exactly. i know there's some out there, and on KGS, we have the Texas Go Players room, but as for other meetings around town, i'm not aware of any current ones. What side of the city do you reside in?

There's a guy here in Beijing at the moment for the Experience Go trip who lives in Houston, named Dimitris. He's about 4-5k.

BongoBob wrote:In regards to the houston players bit. I happen to be a houston player myself As for others, i'm not entirely sure who exactly. i know there's some out there, and on KGS, we have the Texas Go Players room, but as for other meetings around town, i'm not aware of any current ones. What side of the city do you reside in?

I live in the Northwest side. Around 249 and the beltway.