a short history

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of Witch Hat Atelier! What an incredible milestone. Shirahama posted this celebratory image on twitter, with the following caption (machine translation for ENG)

Original: 【お知らせ】本日7/22で『とんがり帽子のアトリエ』は連載開始からなんと10周年を迎えました…！10年？！マジで？そんなに描いてたんだ…！と驚きです。長く続けてこれたのもひとえに読んでくれる読者の皆さまが居るおかげ、本当にありがとうございます。これからもココたちの冒険をよろしくね!

ENG (Machine translation): [Announcement] Today, July 22nd, "A Studio with a Pointed Hat" has reached its 10th anniversary since serialization began...! 10 years?! For real? I've been drawing that long...! I'm shocked. The fact that it's continued this long is entirely thanks to all you readers who keep reading—thank you so much. Here's to more adventures with Coco and friends from here on out!

Chapter 98 has also released today in Japanese, with a black and white version of this image at the cover!

DIRT documents: [# 5]

Drift stitching is a repair method where zip ties, wires, or clips are used to hold cracked parts together after an accident.

The technique became popular in drifting and motorsports because damaged bumpers could be repaired quickly without replacing the entire panel. Small holes are drilled along the crack so the material can be stitched back together and reinforced.

Over time, the repair style spread beyond racing and became common in DIY car culture. People have also used this method on motorcycles and anything in need of a temporary fix that doesn’t immediately hurt the wallet.

When you're talking about the design of the boat, you say "it".

When the boat is still being built, your say "it".

When the boat is nearing completion, you can say "it" or "she".

When the boat is floating in the water you probably say "she", unless there is still a lot of work to be done (e.g. no engine yet) then you say "it".

When the boat is officially launched and operating, you say "she". If you continue to say "it" at this point you are not incorrect but suspiciously untraditional. You are not playing the game.

If you are referring to a boat you don't really know anything about you may say "it" ("there's a big boat, it's coming this way"). But if you know its name, it's probably "she" ("there's the Waverley, she's on her way to Greenock").

If you are talking about boats in general, you say "it" ("when a boat is hit by a wave it heels over")

If you speak about a boat in complimentary terms, it's "she" ("she's a grand boat"). If you are being disparaging it may be it, but not necessarily ("it's as ugly as sin", "she's a grotty old tub").

If she has a boy's name, she's still she. "Boy James", "King Edward", "Sir David Attenborough"? The pronoun is she.

If it's a dumb barge (no engine), you say it. But if it's a rowing boat (no engine), you say she.

GO OFF BESTIE