Agokaki

The Agokaki is a traditional Japanese woodworking joint originating from the carpentry traditions of Kyoto. It literally translates to "angled corner" from Japanese, as the joint involves precisely cutting the ends of two wood pieces at asymmetric angles so that they fit together snugly at an intersection rather than meeting at straight 90 degree corners. This joined miter allows wooden structural elements like cabinet frames, shelves, and furniture to be joined without fasteners or visible hardware, with the strength coming solely from the snug fit of the angled joinery cuts. Masters of Japanese carpentry techniques must demonstrate their skill in accurately cutting the non-perpendicular angles needed to form the Agokaki joint. While there is no single English name, it can be described as an asymmetrical wooden miter joint or Japanese angled corner joinery. The Agokaki is considered a distinctly Japanese style of wooden craftsmanship that illustrates the fine techniques of traditional Japanese woodworking through neatly fitting wood pieces joined only at angled intersections.