Hey readers, welcome to the first day of Hotsui Matsuri 2026! We’re back with another blog to our little series Nihongo Legends where we introduce classic tales of supernatural creatures found in Japanese lore! This time we’re focusing on Princess Kaguya!
Princess Kaguya is the main character to one of my favorite stories called, “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” (Taketori Monogatari). This is essentially Japan’s Thumbelina. She is found as a baby within a bamboo shoot at the size of a thumb that grows to become a beautiful woman. Naturally, male suitors seek her hand and she stands her ground for her own happiness to return to her true home, the moon. Although she respects the Bamboo cutter and his family she knows that she doesn’t belong to Earth.
Along with the baby, there was gold inside the bamboo shoot where the family used to raise Princess Kaguya, buying her clothes and a nice home to grow up in. Due to humanity’s greed, suitors sought out their fortune. As a woman, she was an essential piece to gaining wealth through marriage, but Princess Kaguya was clever. She wanted to see if the suitors were worthy of her hand in their morals and values, so she tested each suitor, and each one continued to show her just how egotistical they were. They tried to lie and cheat while talking a big game just to deceive her until she found herself under the protection of the most powerful man in Japan, the Emperor. Although he fell for her, she did not fall for him and ultimately chose herself in the end.
As a child, I loved how strong the Princess was. Given the circumstances she was in and all the men that tried to trap her due to their own superficial reasons. She stayed true to herself and returned to the moon, leaving the Emperor a farewell gift since he treated her the best and fell in love with her intellect in a respectful way. This story showcases independence in different forms. While also supporting a strong feminine image by teaching youth to not fall victim to those who have ulterior motives and that it is possible to be pretty and smart too.
AishiteLOVEru~
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