Hakodome

The Hakodome is a type of traditional Japanese wood joinery used to join pieces at perpendicular angles. To create a Hakodome joint, precise dovetail cuts are made into the ends of the wood pieces, taking into account the direction of the wood grain.

The dovetail cuts are shaped so that they cut across the wood grain on one piece, but follow and curve with the grain on the other joining piece. This is done so that when fitted together at right angles, the dovetail shapes interlock with the grain running continuously around the corner junction.

By cutting the dovetails at coordinated angles across and with the wood grain, the joint gains strength from the material properties of wood. The interlocking dovetail shapes mechanically lock the pieces in place when fitted perpendicular, with the curving grain lines adding structural integrity to the joint.

Mastery of joining the wood pieces at precise right angles while matching the direction of grain continuity around the corner is demonstrated in the Hakodome technique. Consideration of wood's strength aligned with its fibers results in a sturdy joint without any need for adhesives or visible fastening hardware. The refined Hakodome technique illustrates the importance of grain direction management in traditional Japanese woodworking methods.