Looms were an important stepping stone to the invention of all sorts of automatons and, eventually, computers. The Jacquard loom used punched cards to control the pattern being created. The same system would eventually be used to program the first computers.
The automation of weaving is also what gave us the term luddite.
I can see why, because looking at videos of early looms it seems to be extremely labour-intensive. I could hardly think of a more eligible candidate for innovation
Finally caught up and even accidentially overshot the mark and read the rest of the chapter.
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The jump into chapter 2 felt a bit jarring. I was just getting invested in the characters from chapter 1. We never even found out if Yumi and Hajime took the romance route, and now it’s hundreds of years later and they’re all dead .
In retrospect, it also seems clearer why the authors thought the Joumon period so peaceful (no fortifications=no wars).
Tbf, having to craft all your clothing out of animal skins must be a great motivation to invent something less drafty.
I make it a habit to visit outdoor museums whenever I come across one on vacation, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tradtional store house without similar rodent protection features anywhere. Really makes you appreciate what a universal human experience getting your food eaten by mice must be.
I finished the chapter too. I considered proposing that we move to one full chapter/week from now on, but I don’t want to rush the others. Personally I find it a pretty easy read.
I thought about that, too, but the chapters are so long, the only reason I managed to catch up with this and my other clubs was a 10 hour train ride. Not sure I can deal with this every week.
Regarding those animal skins: I felt that the clothing in the Jomon chapter was a bit misrepresented in the drawings. They already struck me as looking too modern last week (dresses with little sleeves and trousers that seem to fit too well - not looking like animal skins at all) and then in this chapter they say that they only learned about how to stitch garments in the Yayoi period (looking even more primitive than last week because they only have simple holes for the arms and head).
Typing this right now in train being mad that we are stopping mid-chapter when things are getting swordy.
Really liking this manga so far and will probably continue it even without a club. Good amount of Wanikani taught words/kanji. Burned 弥生 just few days ago.
I do find it a reasonably easy read, but I’m quite swamped, so I’m actually alternating weeks and then (aiming to) read 2 weeks in one go. Helps to have a break before we meet new people too.
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