Ep 1. Agricultural Bacteria Tale

In Moyashimon season 1 episode 1, titled "Agricultural Bacteria Tale," we are introduced to Tadayasu Sawaki, a young man who has just enrolled in an agricultural university in Tokyo. What makes Sawaki unique, however, is his ability to see and communicate with microorganisms, specifically bacteria. This ability, which he inherited from his grandfather, has always made him feel like an outsider and he is hesitant to reveal his secret to anyone.

As Sawaki begins his first day of class, he quickly learns that his classmates are just as unique as he is. He meets Kei Yuuki, the top student in the program, and its resident know-it-all. He also meets Kei's childhood friend, Hazuki Oikawa, a shy and reserved girl who has a knack for brewing sake. In addition, he is introduced to Hasegawa, a senior student who is always drunk and carries a wooden sword.

However, despite the quirks of his classmates, Sawaki's attention is quickly drawn to the microorganisms around him. He sees bacteria on his own hand and even on the professor's chalkboard. Eventually, he begins to see a bacteria on Hasegawa that he can't identify. When he asks Hasegawa about it, the senior student tells him it's a bacteria that is used in the brewing of sake, something that Sawaki finds fascinating.

Meanwhile, Kei and Hazuki decide to invite Sawaki to experience the joys of university life and take him out to a bar. There, Sawaki is shocked to see the bacteria on the bar's wooden counter come to life and start dancing in front of him. He explains to his new friends that he can see and communicate with the bacteria, something that Kei, in particular, finds highly amusing.

The next day, Sawaki attends his first microbiology lecture, where he is introduced to the world of bacteria and their importance in agriculture. He learns that there are good bacteria, such as those used in fermentation, and bad bacteria, which can cause disease. However, the professor also warns the class that not all bacteria are harmless and that they need to be careful when handling them.

After the lecture, Sawaki is approached by a group of students who ask him to help with their "secret project." He follows them to an abandoned greenhouse, where they show him a strange-looking plant that they've been working on. The plant, they tell him, is infected with a bacteria that has been wiping out their crops. They believe that Sawaki's ability to communicate with microorganisms can help them understand the bacteria's behavior and hopefully find a way to stop it.

Sawaki agrees to help them, and soon he can see the bacteria swarming over the plant's leaves. He learns that the bacteria are attracted to light and that they reproduce rapidly. He suggests that they try shading the plant to see if it can slow down the bacteria's growth. Sure enough, the shading appears to work, and the plant begins to recover.

With his unique ability to communicate with microorganisms, Sawaki finds himself becoming an important member of the university's agriculture department. He's even invited to join the sake brewing club, where his ability to identify and communicate with the bacteria used in the brewing process becomes a major asset. As Sawaki begins to make friends and find his place in the university, he realizes that his ability to see microorganisms is not something to be ashamed of, but a gift that can help others.

The first episode of Moyashimon sets the tone for the rest of the series, introducing us to the quirky world of agricultural university and the unique cast of characters that inhabit it. It also establishes the show's unique premise, with Sawaki's ability to see bacteria adding a fantastical element to the otherwise grounded setting. While the episode can be a bit slow at times, it does a good job of setting up the series and introducing the audience to the world of Moyashimon.