Ep 5. The Harvest Festival

The Harvest Festival is the fifth episode of the second season of the anime series, Moyashimon. The show is based on a manga of the same name by Masayuki Ishikawa. The series is centered around the life and adventures of a young man named Tadayasu Sawaki who has a unique ability to see and communicate with microbes. The show follows Tadayasu as he navigates through his life at an agricultural university in Tokyo with the help of his microbial friends.

In this episode, Tadayasu and his classmates are getting ready for the annual Harvest Festival. The festival is a big event that celebrates the hard work of the students and faculty in the school's agriculture program. The festival is comprised of various competitions, activities, and exhibitions showcasing the university's harvest and products. The students have been working hard for weeks to prepare for the festival, and everyone is excited to show off their hard work.

Tadayasu, along with his friends Kei and Kawahama, are in charge of a special exhibit at the festival. They have created a display showcasing the unique flavors and benefits of different types of fermented foods. Through their exhibit, they hope to educate festivalgoers about the importance of microbes in food production and the benefits of consuming fermented foods. However, they face some challenges when their exhibit attracts unexpected visitors – a group of otaku who have mistakenly thought that the exhibit was related to anime.

Meanwhile, the school's fermentation team, consisting of Tadayasu's mentor Professor Itsuki, classmate Nakamura, and scientist Misato, are getting ready to compete in the fermentation competition. The competition is the highlight of the festival, and the team is determined to win first place. They have created a unique type of sake using a rare type of yeast, and they are confident that it will impress the judges. However, they face competition from a rival team from a different school, who also have a unique and impressive product.

As the festival kicks off, Tadayasu and his friends find themselves navigating through various exhibits and competitions. Highlights of the festival include a vegetable carving contest, a honey-tasting booth, and a giant pumpkin growing competition. The festival is also a great opportunity for the students to showcase their agricultural products, network with industry professionals, and learn new skills.

As the fermentation competition approaches, tensions are high. The school's team is determined to win, but they know that their rivals have a strong product. The tension escalates when the rival team sabotages the school's fermentation equipment just before the judging begins. This setback puts the school's team at a disadvantage, but they refuse to give up.

The episode culminates in the fermentation competition, where the school's team and their rivals present their respective products to a panel of judges. The tension is palpable as the judges deliberate and eventually announce the winner. The revelation of the winner provides a satisfying conclusion to the episode and leaves the audience eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Overall, The Harvest Festival is an entertaining and informative episode that showcases the hard work and dedication of the students and faculty at the agricultural university. The episode is a testament to the importance of agriculture and the key role that microbes play in food production. The festival provides a great opportunity for students and professionals to connect, learn, and compete. The episode is an excellent addition to the Moyashimon series and is sure to please fans of the show.