Bamboo Cutter

The Bamboo Cutter, or "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," is a classic Japanese folktale about an elderly woman who finds a tiny, radiant princess inside a bamboo stalk. She and her husband raise the girl, Kaguya-hime, who grows rapidly and displays otherworldly beauty. Many suitors seek her hand, but she sets impossible tasks, revealing her celestial origins. Ultimately, Kaguya-hime must return to her cosmic home, leaving her earthly parents heartbroken. The story explores themes of impermanence, longing, and the allure of the celestial, and is celebrated as one of Japan’s earliest and most beloved literary works.