The construction method of the Great Anzai Ship isn't all that different from regular ships.
The keel is joined together with pine—this keel-splicing technique was already widely used in the Song Dynasty. For the ribs, they use old elm or locust, heated over a fierce fire until they bend into shape, joining them together to form the ship's skeleton.
The planks are made from cedar, and the outer layer is stuck with a mixture of bamboo leaves and mashed honeycomb mud, using the natural wax to keep seawater from seeping in. Then, the whole thing's smeared with chinaberry oil to ward off water damage.
They use hardwood to make massive oars, soft bamboo for the sails—whether it's shaving, pressing, whatever—there are all kinds of methods, too many to count.
After Wanjin Shipyard was set up, Harano would pop in whenever he had time—not just to cheer on Okabe Iyayama, but also because he was genuinely curious about the old ways of shipbuilding.
