Once upon a time, there was an old man who frequently went to the mountains to cut bamboo. He crafted baskets, cages, and other items from the bamboo to sell and sustain his livelihood. His name was Sanuki no Tsukasa Maro. One day, as usual, he went to cut bamboo and noticed a glowing light from one of the bamboo stalks. Curious, he approached and saw light emanating from inside the stalk. Upon closer inspection, he discovered a tiny person, about three inches tall, living inside it. The old man then said, “You live in the bamboo I see every day; you must be my child.” He took the child in his hands and brought it home.
The old man entrusted the child to his wife to raise. The child grew up to be exceptionally lovely and beautiful, though tiny, so they kept her in a basket. Since finding the child, the old man found many pieces of gold in the bamboo every time he went cutting, and he quickly became a wealthy man.
Under the careful nurturing of the old woman, the child grew day by day, just as bamboo shoots grow into bamboo. After three months, the child had grown into a young woman. The old woman styled her hair and dressed her in skirts. The old man kept her at home, did not let her go out, and loved her dearly. As the child grew, she became more beautiful, filling the house with brilliance, leaving no corner dark. Whenever the old man felt sorrow or anger, seeing the child would dispel all his pain and calm his spirit.
As the child matured, the old man invited a man named Saibu no Akita from the neighboring areas to name her. Akita named her “Kaguya-hime,” which could also be written as “Hikari-hime,” meaning “Princess of Shining Light.” After naming her, the old man threw a grand feast, inviting various performers. Everyone nearby, young and old, was invited to the celebration, which lasted three lively days.
