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もやしもん / Moyasimon #2
もやしもん 2
EYES ON THE PRIZE
Tadayasu’s odd ability to see germs with the naked eye has come in handy for lectures on exotic (and stinky) fermented foods and sake. However, he’s going to need more than his natural gifts to survive the university’s spectacular Spring Festival. Only great perseverance and a bit of luck will get him through a harrowing competition to achieve the grand prize—a night of attempted debauchery.
Includes special extras after the story!
Tadayasu’s odd ability to see germs with the naked eye has come in handy for lectures on exotic (and stinky) fermented foods and sake. However, he’s going to need more than his natural gifts to survive the university’s spectacular Spring Festival. Only great perseverance and a bit of luck will get him through a harrowing competition to achieve the grand prize—a night of attempted debauchery.
Includes special extras after the story!
224 pages
First published October 21, 2005
40 people want to read
About the author
Masayuki Ishikawa
67 books4 followersMasayuki Ishikawa (石川雅之, Ishikawa Masayuki, born July 29, 1974 in Sakai, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist best known for creating Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture and Junketsu no Maria.
Applied to the College of Arts, but was rejected. While working part-time at a transportation company, he got an interested in manga magazines, and between age 18 and 19, he started submitting to Weekly Young Magazine. In 1997, he debuted with "Japanese Government Maneuver Sqaudron Coumin V". In 1999, his "God's Animal Mountain", won the Chiba Tetsuya Award. In 2004, he began "Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture" in Kodansha's Weekly Evening magazine, which then brought him a level of fame. After "Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture" he started his work on "Junketsu no Maria", which became another success.
He is known for drawing fine details in a very thin line, something that he seems to do unconsciously and doesn't use assistants to help him in his work.
Applied to the College of Arts, but was rejected. While working part-time at a transportation company, he got an interested in manga magazines, and between age 18 and 19, he started submitting to Weekly Young Magazine. In 1997, he debuted with "Japanese Government Maneuver Sqaudron Coumin V". In 1999, his "God's Animal Mountain", won the Chiba Tetsuya Award. In 2004, he began "Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture" in Kodansha's Weekly Evening magazine, which then brought him a level of fame. After "Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture" he started his work on "Junketsu no Maria", which became another success.
He is known for drawing fine details in a very thin line, something that he seems to do unconsciously and doesn't use assistants to help him in his work.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 3, 2019
Too much school festival and objectification of women, not enough talking bacteria and nerd trivia.
July 27, 2012
Breaks my heart that Del Rey/Kodansha stopped publishing Moyashimon in English after this volume, because it is so good. Really! If more people bought the first two tanks, do you think Kodansha USA would reconsider not publishing them? Even the manga-ka wanted it to do good in the States! This is a fun, vibrant, unique manga that combines science, humor, and the pursuit of romance into one flavorful read. Plus, A+ Nausicaa references at the beginning!
October 28, 2012
It's a shame that this series was canceled after only two books. Maybe it's too unique? Agriculture students, one of whom can see bacteria, learn the many (MANY) uses and bits of trivia surrounding microbiotics. The series reads part science lecture, part Animal House. Here's a tidbit to take with you: breathing masks do not block influenza. However, the humidity of your breath on the mask slows down invading influenza.
February 20, 2024
物語性があまりないので、読んでいて飽きてしまった。
けれど、菌達視点で書かれた掃除シーンが可愛かったので星3つ。
もっと主人公が菌が見えるパワーを使って大活躍するのかと思ってたんだけどな…
（それと、男性誌に描かれてた漫画だからか、描かれた年代のせいか、女性が思いっきり性の対象でしかなくて、ちょっと閉口。）
けれど、菌達視点で書かれた掃除シーンが可愛かったので星3つ。
もっと主人公が菌が見えるパワーを使って大活躍するのかと思ってたんだけどな…
（それと、男性誌に描かれてた漫画だからか、描かれた年代のせいか、女性が思いっきり性の対象でしかなくて、ちょっと閉口。）
February 13, 2016
Review for the first two volumes.
I have watched the Moyashimon anime (both the first and second season) some time ago. And while browsing a book market I came upon the second volume. So I decided to read the manga.
However, I won't be able to read further then book 2. Del Rey stopped this one after book 2, and no one else has the volumes. :(
Here is to hoping Kodansha or Yen Press will re-license it and release it again.
The manga was really fun, I loved seeing Tadayasu talk to the microbes/germs, he had whole conversations with those little guys and girls, and everyone around him was staring at him like he was crazy. He is a great guy however, and I am glad for him that he finds people he can trust, people who won't use him because of his ability.
The university life at agricultural university seems like hell at times. Sticking your hand up a cow, battles that take 3 days, newbie initiations, various seminars, a crazy professor, his crazy and always poor friends. Add to that mix the microbes and chaos is complete.
I did love the side characters. Tadayasu on his on is fun, but I think it would be very bland to only have him around, so it is good that they added a whole slew of characters. However there are times that it is not exactly clear who the main character is at that point.
I loved how everything is explained, you will learn quite a bit about fermentation and about microbes in a fun way that is not boring.
One thing I didn't like, but I think that is Del Rey, and otherwise this also applies to the Japanese one. There was way too much information in the side margins. They kept repeating character info, blurb and some other things. It just got annoying and I was literally saying things like: Yeah I know who is who, and yeah I know what the blurb is about. I feel like it was better if that part was just removed. The only thing I liked in the side margins were the microbes information, which was really fun and I learned quite a bit about them.
All in all, I would recommend the manga, however, since the manga stops at 2 in English, I would also recommend the anime (be warned though, the second season looks utterly bleh in character design).
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have watched the Moyashimon anime (both the first and second season) some time ago. And while browsing a book market I came upon the second volume. So I decided to read the manga.
However, I won't be able to read further then book 2. Del Rey stopped this one after book 2, and no one else has the volumes. :(
Here is to hoping Kodansha or Yen Press will re-license it and release it again.
The manga was really fun, I loved seeing Tadayasu talk to the microbes/germs, he had whole conversations with those little guys and girls, and everyone around him was staring at him like he was crazy. He is a great guy however, and I am glad for him that he finds people he can trust, people who won't use him because of his ability.
The university life at agricultural university seems like hell at times. Sticking your hand up a cow, battles that take 3 days, newbie initiations, various seminars, a crazy professor, his crazy and always poor friends. Add to that mix the microbes and chaos is complete.
I did love the side characters. Tadayasu on his on is fun, but I think it would be very bland to only have him around, so it is good that they added a whole slew of characters. However there are times that it is not exactly clear who the main character is at that point.
I loved how everything is explained, you will learn quite a bit about fermentation and about microbes in a fun way that is not boring.
One thing I didn't like, but I think that is Del Rey, and otherwise this also applies to the Japanese one. There was way too much information in the side margins. They kept repeating character info, blurb and some other things. It just got annoying and I was literally saying things like: Yeah I know who is who, and yeah I know what the blurb is about. I feel like it was better if that part was just removed. The only thing I liked in the side margins were the microbes information, which was really fun and I learned quite a bit about them.
All in all, I would recommend the manga, however, since the manga stops at 2 in English, I would also recommend the anime (be warned though, the second season looks utterly bleh in character design).
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
September 28, 2015
An equally excellent second volume. The storyline covers a college weekend festival. There are still microbes and brewing and learning, but the focus is more on college life and growing up.
This is the last volume in English. Just FYI.
This is the last volume in English. Just FYI.
August 22, 2016
what a completely strange book! I love it's clarification as an agricultural school germ manga. All of the literally yeasty facts went over my head, but the story line was fun in a weird way. I hope to read the rest of the series.
May 8, 2011
I am eagerly awaiting the English version of the volume 3, and I so want to see the live-action series.
June 28, 2011
Fun way to learn a little bit about sake-making, fermentation, bacteria and germs. The animated tv series is even more entertaining.
May 26, 2013
Please read my review here: http://realbooks4ever.tumblr.com/post....
February 16, 2015
A manga with cute bacteria that you can never see with your naked eye. Hahaha
January 8, 2017
日吉酒店、菌オバケ、武藤葵（むとう あおい）登場、UFO研、蛍の休学、宏岡亜矢（ひろおか あや）登場、春祭。ナウシカのコスプレ面白すぎ！
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews