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Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture
Manga Review
Moyashimon: Tales of Agriculture is a college slice of life drama that is from the prospective of Tadayasu Sawaki, who has the ability to see micro-organisms in real life. He is the second son of an agricultural family, so he's expected to inherit the family business. Still, he doesn't think much of his talent, but it is considered to be worth about three million in academic worth in lab equipment. Who would want to steal or use his talent? Or even then... what would happen to Sawaki in his academic trek? Surround him with an eccentric cast of supporting characters microscopic or human and this lifts the series up.
Micro-organisms, bacteria are exemplified and simplified in this series, making it an entertaining read for those who want to be entertained by a pretty scientific subject. What other series can you see where micro-organism are made into lively cute personified figures? Please don't think good or bad things of the bacteria, because even if it is personified in the series, it is just there, in life you cannot avoid them at all!
 Another interesting perspective is the setting of this series, agricultural college. A lot of the food produced now, is either with machine or organic means, and there is an industry in the study of agricultural, but has this even been mentioned in a manga? I think not.
Based on seeing the micro-organism factor, the most similar read alike title for this book is Mushishi, which has the mention of unique invisible characters. Another possible title for readers to check out is Oishinbo, since there is an explanation aspect to Moyashimon, which can also appeal to readers for specific detail oriented subjects. There is certainly lecture filled text in Moyashimon that makes it academic/educational based. Don't let that put you off though.
 At this point and time, other than the interesting American flag inspired book covers, there are hardly any cover images in the series itself, but an interesting tidbit to know, the author does not have an assistant for drawing some of the series background detailed scenes, the micro organisms are a lot of circles though.
Moyashimon is the breakout series hit for manga-ka, Masayuki Ishikawa. His other works has so far been historical one-shots, so that means that Moyashimon is the only title of this manga-ka to be released in English. Moyashimon is his first modern series. It is a series that has won several Japanese manga awards, and currently has several spin offs (Animation series, live action adaptation, and merchandises available.) The manga released by Del Rey Publishing. There are two volumes out in English and nine volumes in Japanese.
Reviewed by Linda Yau, October 2010
Below: Two full page spreads from Moyasimon, click on each image to view at full size.
Below: Scenes from the anime series Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture.
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