Taketori no Okina

Taketori no Okina, also known as the Old Man of the Bamboo Cutter, is a central character from Japan’s oldest surviving narrative, “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.” He is a humble bamboo worker who discovers a tiny, luminous girl—Princess Kaguya—inside a bamboo stalk. As she matures, many suitors seek her hand, but she remains mysterious and ultimately returns to the Moon, revealing her divine origin. This story explores themes of beauty, impermanence, and longing, and is considered a foundational work in Japanese literature and folklore.