You’ve probably seen the Studio Ghibli film. Or maybe you’ve heard about the girl born from a stalk of glowing wood. Honestly, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (known in Japan as Taketori Monogatari) is basically the world’s oldest piece of science fiction, and it is way weirder than most people realize. It’s not just a cute bedtime story. It’s a 10th-century narrative that involves celestial diplomacy, impossible quests, and a literal UFO departure that leaves everyone depressed.
I've spent years digging into Heian-period literature, and there is something about Princess Kaguya that feels remarkably modern. Most folklore ends with a wedding or a "happily ever after." This one doesn't. It ends with a woman choosing—or being forced—to leave Earth because she doesn't belong here. It’s a story about the pain of being human and the realization that even the most beautiful things are temporary.
The Discovery of Kaguya-hime
One day, an old man named Sanuki no Miyatsuko is out doing his job. He’s cutting bamboo. He sees a stalk glowing. He cuts it open and finds a tiny, three-inch-tall girl. He takes her home. This is where the story gets interesting. Every time he cuts bamboo after that, he finds a nugget of gold inside the stalk. He gets rich. Fast.
The girl, named Kaguya-hime (the Shining Princess of the Supple Bamboo), grows into a woman of "unparalleled beauty" in just three months. Word gets out. Obviously. Every man in Japan wants to marry her, but she isn’t interested. She isn’t playing hard to get; she genuinely doesn't want to be there. This is a recurring theme in the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter—the protagonist’s fundamental detachment from the world she’s living in.
The Five Suitors and the Impossible Tasks
Eventually, the crowd of admirers thins out until only five persistent noblemen remain. Kaguya-hime doesn't want to marry any of them. So, she gives them tasks. They are impossible.
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- Prince Ishizukuri is told to find the stone begging bowl of the Buddha from India. He tries to fake it with a dirty bowl from a mountain temple. Kaguya sees right through the lie because the bowl doesn't glow.
- Prince Kuramochi is sent for a branch from a tree with silver roots, a golden trunk, and white jade fruit. He hires craftsmen to build a fake. He almost wins until the craftsmen show up demanding payment while he's presenting the gift. Embarrassing.
- The Right Minister Abe no Miushi has to find the fire-rat robe of China. He pays a fortune for one, but when Kaguya throws it into a fire to test it, the robe burns up. It was a fake.
- The Great Counselor Otomo no Miyuki tries to find a jewel from a dragon’s neck. He gets caught in a storm, almost dies, and gives up because dragons are, you know, terrifying.
- The Middle Counselor Isonokami no Marotari tries to get a cowrie shell born from a swallow. He falls off a ladder and breaks his back.
It’s dark. It’s funny in a twisted way. But it shows Kaguya’s agency. She uses their greed and vanity against them to maintain her freedom.
Why the Emperor Couldn't Win Her Over
Then the Emperor shows up. He’s the most powerful man in Japan. He doesn't go through the quest nonsense; he just tries to take her. When he tries to pull her into his carriage, she literally starts to disappear—turning into a shadow. He realizes she isn't human.
They end up becoming pen pals. Seriously. They exchange poetry for three years. It’s the most "human" connection she has in the entire story, but even the Emperor of Japan can't stop what's coming.
The Moon People and the Celestial UFO
Kaguya-hime eventually starts crying whenever she looks at the moon. She tells her foster parents the truth: she is a citizen of the "Moon Capital" (Tsuki no Miyako). She was sent to Earth as a temporary punishment or for protection—the text is actually a bit vague on the "why," which adds to the mystery.
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The date is set. The fifteenth day of the eighth month.
The Emperor sends 2,000 archers to guard the house. They stand on the roof. They surround the walls. They are ready to fight. But when the "Moon People" descend on a cloud, a strange light blinds everyone. The soldiers lose their will to fight. It’s described in a way that sounds suspiciously like high-tech interference.
The Moon People bring a robe of feathers. They tell Kaguya that once she puts it on, she will forget all her love and pity for the people of Earth. She begs for a moment. She writes a final letter to the Emperor and gives her foster parents her discarded robe. Then, she puts on the celestial garment. Her heart goes cold. She forgets everything. She flies away.
The Mt. Fuji Connection
The ending of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is the reason Mt. Fuji has its name—or at least, that’s how the legend goes. The Emperor is devastated. He receives the letter and an elixir of immortality that Kaguya left behind. He says, "What is the point of living forever if I can never see her again?"
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He orders his men to take the letter and the elixir to the top of the highest mountain in Japan—the one closest to the heavens—and burn them. The smoke is said to still rise from the peak of Mt. Fuji today. In fact, one theory suggests the name "Fuji" comes from the word fushi (immortal).
What This Story Teaches Us About Heian Japan
This isn't just a fantasy. It’s a window into the values of the Heian period (794–1185). Back then, marriage was often a political transaction. By rejecting the suitors and even the Emperor, Kaguya-hime is a radical figure. She defies the social order.
Also, the story reflects Buddhist themes of "impermanence" (mujo). The idea that nothing lasts, and that our attachments to people and things are the source of our greatest suffering. When Kaguya puts on that robe, she’s essentially reaching a state of Nirvana—free from pain, but also free from love. It’s a bittersweet trade-off.
Actionable Insights for Folklore Enthusiasts
If you want to dive deeper into the world of Princess Kaguya and ancient Japanese storytelling, don't just stop at the summary. Here is how to actually experience the nuance of this legend:
- Watch the 2013 Studio Ghibli Film: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, directed by Isao Takahata. It is visually stunning, using a watercolor style that mimics ancient scrolls. It captures the emotional weight of the ending better than any other adaptation.
- Visit the Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama: Located in Kyoto, this is where you can feel the atmosphere that inspired the story. Go early in the morning before the crowds arrive to understand why an old man might believe a stalk of bamboo could be magical.
- Read the "Manyoshu": If you want to understand the poetry of the era, this is the oldest collection of Japanese "ten thousand leaves" poetry. It provides the cultural context for the letters Kaguya and the Emperor exchanged.
- Look for the "Elixir" Motifs in Modern Media: Once you know this story, you'll see it everywhere—from Sailor Moon (which is heavily based on Kaguya) to modern anime like Tonikaku Kawaii.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter remains a masterpiece because it refuses to give us what we want. It doesn't give us a wedding. It gives us a reminder that beauty is fleeting and that sometimes, the things we love most belong to another world entirely. Check out the local museum if you’re ever in Fuji City; they have a dedicated "Kaguya-hime Museum" that explores the local variations of the legend where she doesn't go to the moon, but disappears into the mountain instead.