Customer Reviews

Moyasimon 1: Tales of Agriculture

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Manga unlike any other. No giggling girls, no magical powers, no boy likes girl (giggle, giggle) or vice versa, no fights even. This is manga for the educated market, those who want something to challenge them.

Tadayasau is going off to University, an agricultural university to be precise, with a special talent. He can see bacteria with his naked eye! That may not seem like much of a talent, but when the produce of a country depends on `cultural' processes (ha!), the skill becomes more valuable. For his fellow students saved from food poisoning, he is appreciated. For his classmates, who look for his assistance on their assignments and sake brewing activities, he is also appreciated. To his professor, his grandfathers' friend, he is invaluable. To Hasegawa (leather and lace clad research assistant), he is annoying at first, then becomes essential to her work as well. For a young man, eager to enjoy his first university experience, his `gift' carries a burden.

As I said before, this is an unusual manga. The information presented by Masayaki Ishikawa is intriguing in that it is accurate scientifically speaking. He explains how invaluable fermentation is to food supply and drug manufacturing for readers. He even tackles the difficult topic, publish or perish. In this case, publish is not enough. Itsuki wants more, he wants agricultural practices to help transform the earth, to terra-form, as it were.

The very interesting thing about this book is that it has captured the imagination of Manga readers so much so, that there are exhibits in museums that celebrate bacteria! Moyasimon is a national phenomena! An alternate title might be "Bacteria and Me, a Love Story".

If you like Kitchen Princess, this is way above you!

Tim Lasiuta

Moyasimon is an amazing combination of agriculture and fun. I was listing off random facts from it before I even finished the first volume. However, if you are looking for a light read with some fun trivia now and then, you may be a bit intimidated by the shear amount of text and information presented. It definitely takes longer to comb through this than your average issue of Naruto. However, as a student at the Agricultural School at North Carolina State University I am fascinated not only by the facts about microbiology and agriculture, but also by the portrayal of the Agricultural University in the manga, which is based on a real university.

I've mentioned a lot about the facts and information in the manga, but there is also the story. While it may not have a clear plot in the "conflict needing resolution" sense, that's fairly common for manga and doesn't detract from the read at all. The characters are great and definitely not a bunch of nerds in a lab or hicks on a farm. They are extremely likable and funny, even when they do get to talking science. Please check out and support this great manga so that Del Ray will continue to publish and distribute it in the US!

Tadayasu would have loved to experience the college life
as soon as the year began. Of course, he could not. The
first day that he arrives at his university, Tadaysasu
meets his professor at a possible human murder scene. The
second day of school, he is already sick from eating
infected curry. To make matters more interesting, Tadayasu
can see bacteria with his naked eye. More than one person
at the university wants to take advantage of his ability,
whether for bootlegging sake or research. Who will he help?


Moyasimon is a book that does not follow the normal
manga plotline. Oddly, Tadayasu does not meet any cute
girls or have a fan club. Instead, his character serves as
a puppet for the other characters' desires because of his
ability to see bacteria. I love science, and this book was
all about microbiology. This made it very interesting and
unique to read. Being a manga, the end of the story leaves
plenty of room for more volumes to come out. I look
forward to reading them too.

Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer
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