Taketori Monogatari

Taketori Monogatari, also known as "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," is a classic Japanese folktale believed to date back to the 10th century. It tells the story of a poor bamboo cutter who discovers a tiny, radiant princess inside a bamboo stalk. He and his wife raise her as their daughter, naming her Kaguya-hime. As she grows, numerous suitors seek her hand in marriage, but she challenges them with impossible tasks. Ultimately, Kaguya-hime reveals her celestial origins and returns to the Moon, highlighting themes of beauty, longing, and the transitory nature of life. It is often considered Japan's first novel.