Moyasimon 1: Tales of Agriculture

by Masayuki Ishikawa and Ishikawa Masayuki

BACTERIA TO SCHOOL Tadayasu is a new, fresh-faced university student hiding a bizarre secret: He can see germs with the naked eye. Between the machinations of an eccentric professor determined to unlock the power of the microbial world and the doomed agricultural experiments of his fellow students, will Tadayasu ever find the cool college atmosphere he so desires?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345514726
• ISBN13: 9780345514721
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Del Rey
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 0.7" x 5.2"
• Age Range: 16 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 11 and higher

Customer Reviews

Flamingnet.com Teen Book Reviews-very interesting and unique

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 Flamingnet Book Reviews Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

Quite a trend...academic 'comics'

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