Original subtitles

Studio Ghibli, Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DYMP, Walt Disney Japan, Mitsubishi, Toho and KDDI present

THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA

Executive Producer: Seiichiro Ujiie

Based on the Japanese Folktale 'The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter'

Original Concept: Isao Takahata

Screenplay: Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi

Music: Joe Hisaishi Theme Song: Kazumi Nikaido

Character Design and Directing Animator: Osamu Tanabe

Art Director: Kazuo Oga

Planning: Toshio Suzuki Producer: Yoshiaki Nishimura

Direction: Isao Takahata

Once upon a time long long ago now, there lived an old bamboo cutter.

He would make his way into the mountain forest and cut wild bamboo of which he would make all sorts of useful things...

His name was Sanuki no Miyatsuko.

One day he noticed a light shining from inside a bamboo stalk.

Curious the bamboo cutter approached it.

As he approached it, the light flowed into the ground...

creating something he'd never seen something before.

What is this?

Bamboo shoot sprouting so early? Even before the plums?

What is this?

Have mercy on me!

Um...

May I ask please, who might be you be, my lady?

Oh my! She is such a beautiful little princess!

It's a miracle! This must be a blessing from heaven, I'm sure of it!

You're back early. Something wrong?

Ah! What a beautiful Little doll!

No quiet, you'll wake her. She's sleeping.

Ah! Shh. Shh.

She just appeared to me in the grove.

Appeared?

Definetly a blessing from heaven!

Hey! Heaven gave it to me.

Oh? Well I'm the one who'll raise her.

Raise her? She's already a perfect little princess.

No no no! Don't be silly, there is more to raising a child than you think.

Right?

Here let me take her... Oh!

Don't just sit there! Go find a lenght of cloth or something warm I can wrap her in!

Don't be upset, sweetheart. We're gonna take very good care of you. I promise.

Will this work?

There, there! You're gonna be just fine. That's a good girl!

What's happening? What's going on?

Can't you see? She wants me to be the person who raises her!

Bring me one of the good baskets, please.

Alright! This is very strange, you know. I mean think about it...

What if she's a widdling spirit or something?

What does she look like to you?

A little baby, ofcourse.

That's right!

But she was a beautiful princess just a moment ago!

Well I've to believe thats heaven showing us what a beautiful princess she's going to become someday when she's all grown up.

You're right!

Ofcourse. So that means we have to raise the baby properly right from the start.

Yeah! That must be it. I see

I'm glad you understand.

I'll be right there helping!

Wait! We've to find a breast for her.

That's why I'm taking her to a wet nurse.

Yes I heard there was a new baby in the wood we're settling.

Is that what this is for?

Yes we've to bring a gift.

What's wrong?

Hey! Hey what you doing?

O you poor thing! I guess you were really hungry.

How did you do that?

You see? She's very content, she's drinking it right down.

Yeah!

I can't begin to explain it, but I have milk!

She's laughing!

She's laughing!

Ah! I might be imagining but she's feeling heavier.

No! That can't be!

What's the matter?

She just got even heavier!

What? Let me see.

She's seem to be growing right before our eyes.

Look! The Plum blossoms!

I think she's got a little heavier!

You see?

She's certainly okay!

And from that day forward the Bamboo Cutter and his wife...

carefully raised this miraculous child as if this were their very own.

Careful! You about to touch those.

Look! There's a baby in there! Can you make it?

Yeah? Where?

Stop pushing!

See? There she is!

Hey! She's looking over here!

Yeah! She is!

No she's not!

What's the matter?

Oh!

Hey!

Princess! Princess!

She's standing!

She's begun to walk!

Oh!

Hey now!

Hey! There, there... Alright

Hey! That kid's real!

She walking!

Yeah! She was just crawling.

I think she just got bigger too!

She grows fast! Look! little Bamboo that'll be her name!

That's her!

Little Bamboo! That's perfect!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

What do you mean little Bamboo? She's Princess! Princess!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

Princess! Come here!

Princess...Come here!

Princess!

Atta girl! Come here

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo! Be quiet!

Princess! Come here!

Princess...come here! Come here!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

Princess...come here Little Bamboo!

Princess...come here

Princess! Come here!

Princess! Come here!

Princess!

That's my girl! Yeah

You wanna come with me? C'mon

We'll have these bamboo shoots for dinner.

Dinner! Dinner! Bamboo shoots!

Alright now!

Stand back princess.

There's lots of them!

Yeah!

Come here!

Stupid! You don't mess with wild boar piglets!

Huh?

You're really a strange kid! Looks like you just got bigger!

That kid's weird, Sutemaru.

Woh! Look at her! She's grown again!

She's just like a bamboo shoot.

Yeah you're right! A bamboo shoot!

Bamboo shoot! For dinner!

Bamboo shoot! Bamboo shoot!

Little Bamboo!

* Go round, go round *

* Waterwheel, go round * * Go round, and call Mr Sun *

* Birds, Grass, trees, flowers *

* Spring, summer, autumn, winter * * bring 'em all on *

* Go round, go round * * Waterwheel go round *

* Go round and call Mr.Sun *

* Spring, summer, autumn, winter * * bring 'em all on *

* Spring, summer, autumn, winter * * bring 'em all on *

Birds!

Bees! Bugs!

Beasts! Flower!

Trees!

* Go round and call Mr.Sun *

Huh? Tell me something?

How come you know this song?

I just know it!

* Go round, come round * * waterwheel go round *

* Distant time, Come round *

O Come round, call back my heart

Come round, call back my heart

* Birds, bugs, beasts *

* Grass, flowers and trees *

* Teach me how to feel *

* If I hear that you pine for me *

* I will want to return to you *

* I will want to return to you *

Those weren't the words.

Hey! She's crying!

Yeah she is!

What's wrong?

I don't know.

She's so weird!

Look! That's where our houses are.

And that's your bamboo grove.

Yeh! Bamboo shoots!

It's time to go!

Cmon!

Princess!

Princess!

Where are you?

Where are you? Where she gone?

What is that?

What's this...?

I'll be back later!

Be careful now!

I will

I'm a little worried, those boys are rough. She might get hurt playing with them.

She's fine, don't worry. It's good for her.

Yeah, it's just that I've been up bamboo grove...

Ah...it's nothin'

No No, that's lacquer! You'll get a rash!

Lacquer?

That smells good!

He's gonna make bowls out of those.

Really?

Wow!

That's my father, my brother and my mother.

Goodbye! Bye! Bring us some presents!

Bye! Bring us back a present!

This is the Bamboo Cutter's daughter.

Little Bamboo.

Little Bamboo! It's ok, jump!

It's really hot!

I'm thirsty.

Bet those are really sweet.

They are?

Hey! Come back!

Let's go!

Someone's coming!

Leave it!

I'll save this for the others.

Delicious!

Delicious!

Then when I saw these beautiful robes shooting up in the air, I realized...

what Heaven wishes to be done.

What Heaven wishes to be done?

It wants us to give her a life that suits these robes.

To make her a noble princess.

A noble princess?

With this gold, I'll build her a fine mansion in the capital.

Take her there?

Yes.

Out here she'll always be just a country girl.

Living with nobles as a real princess...

she'll be happy.

In any case, that is Heaven's wish.

A noble princess...

Yes.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll go to the capital.

From the next day on, the Bamboo Cutter...

went often to the capital, with gold in his kimono.

The summer went by, and the autumn harvest came round.

Blow, O wind, blow, blow

Blow hard, O wind

Little Bamboo! Take him!

Bring the fruits of the mountains

Chestnuts, mushrooms, grapes...

Carry me!

Carry me!

I'll rub it all over you!

A pheasant!

It's heading for you!

Little Bamboo! Chase it left!

Okay!

It's coming your way!

I'll get you!

Sutemaru!

Sutemaru!

Sutemaru!

Sutemaru!

I got it.

I got it!

Great!

Are you hurt?

I'm coming down.

No!

Sutemaru!

The rocks are weak here!

I'm sorry.

Get a long vine, will you!

Sure!

You're bleeding.

A little spit'll fix that.

No!

Wait.

There.

Little Bamboo...

did you get bigger again?

You think so?

Somehow I have the feeling you'll just keep on growing...

and go somewhere far away.

Why do you say that?

I'll always be here with you, forever and ever.

I'll always be one of your gang.

Sutemaru!

How's this?

Good.

Tie it!

We did!

Right!

Go on.

Hey, there's mushrooms here!

Look, Sutemaru!

You're right!

Look at them all! Tomorrow let's have a stew!

Yeah! We'll cook this bird.

Great! Pheasant stew!

Pheasant! Pheasant! Pheasant stew!

Sorry I'm late.

Sutemaru caught a pheasant.

And we found mushrooms and grapes!

Where are you going?

The capital.

The capital?

Me, too?

Now?

Yes. Leave that basket there.

But I told Sutemaru we'd all have pheasant stew.

Leave it.

Let's go.

Will we be back in time for stew tomorrow?

But for the Princess and Sutemaru, that tomorrow never came.

The young lady is awake.

Good morning, my lady.

If you please...

Ah! Well, well, princess!

And can I ask you, if Your Highness is mood of the best spirutals today?

Is that you Momma?

And Papa?

You both look so funny!

Why are you dressed like that?

I suppose we aren't doing this right!

I am!

My princess! Get yourself a change of range. I mean, a range of chobes!

Sorry.

Get a change of robe!

All of these robes are yours, Your Highness.

Wow!

These smell good!

They're beautiful!

They're like falling rainbows!

She's having a great time, she seems likes them.

Well ofcourse!

As of today this will be her new home.

This mansion is ours?

That's right.

This is fantastic!

Poppa, I can swim in there... can't I?

You most certainly will not swim in there.

A noble princess would never frolic nor even consider part taking in an unlady like attics.

Your Highness...

I've thusly summoned Lady Sagami here from the palace to educate you...

in the ways of the nobility. Her job is to make you a noble princess!

Noble princess?

From the palace?

My Lord! This child is clearly in deperate need of my instruction.

Naturally, I'd have liked to have started earlier but I, Sagami would mould her into a truely fine young lady.

And so the Princess under Lady Sagami's tutoridge...

began to learn the airs and graces of a noble lady.

Watch this carefully.

Keep you back like so as straight as an arrow. Swish up perfectly like this.

Swish?

That is approximately correct.

The truth is, a noble princess stands only on rare occasions.

But...how do I move if I want to pickup something?

Like this...

come to a kneeling position and schuffle your knees to move gracefully.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. Notice nothing else moves.

Your Highness! We're far from done!

Wow!

It is a beautiful scroll, is it not?

A proper way of looking at it is like this so the story flows.

Look! Now it's really flowing!

Oh! How about a small reward?

Oh! It makes me so proud to see you practicing your letters...

I'm happy to see my teachings are reaching you.

Your Highness!

Yes! Now once more, together.

Hey, that was fun!

Your Highness!

How's practice coming along?

Is everything going smoothly?

Ah, My Lord!

I trust you are well, Father.

Well, my!

You've become so elegant I hardly recognize you.

How about the koto lessons, are they coming along as well?

We've only just begun... she only knows a few notes!

My, how beautiful!

It's very suspicious and I'm starting to wonder if someone else has trained her before...

In front of you, she performs perfectly but with me, she's all games!

Oh! That's right!.

Her highness has been straight down from Heaven.

She was never supposed to stay in the mountains like some mountain girl.

With her father watching proudly, the princess devoted herself to Lady Sagami training.

What is happening here?

Why are you behaving like some kind of a servant!

You are if nothing else the mother to a noble princess.

But this is the only way I feel at ease living in this house.

It's because you feel that way the princess never changes...

Princess, what's wrong?

You're extremely quiet today.

Come over here and listen husband...

What? Really?

Yes.

That's wonderful news! We'll have to hold a great banquet!

A banquet?

A celebration of your coming to age.

Ofcourse this is of the happiest of occasions!

If we're having a party, can we can invite my friends?

I love to see them all!

Your friends from the village! That would be wonderful for you.

Don't be stupid!

You don't understand anything! Do you realize how important this is?

We live in a much different world to those hillbillies back in the old village!

This banquet will make you a truly noble princess!

So right after New Year's we'll have a celebration ??? and the naming ritual.

But Poppa...

Ah! This is wonderful! I mean it! It's wonderful

Wait! I'll ask Inbe no Akita. He'll serve as your Name Father.

Hello? Is anybody there?

Lady Sagami? Lady Sagami!

What a bore.

* Birds, bugs, beasts * * Grass, flowers and trees *

* Teach people how to feel *

Momma, would you give a part of the garden to me?

Why?

It would be fun to plant some of the things I like.

Yes, yes of course if it makes you happy.

You can do whatever you want with it.

Thank you, Momma.

No! Get away!

You'll never be a noble princess looking as you do now.

Without the eyebrows this sweat will run into my eyes!

Don't be ridiculous. For a noble princess there is nothing that will maker her perspire!

Come...

Why would I want black teeth? I wouldn't open my mouth with it!

And I won't be able to laugh anymore!

You won't have to worry about that! For a noble princess does not open her mouth to laugh.

That's stupid!

Even a noble princess might sweat and sometimes want to laugh out loud!

Surely they wanna cry...

Or get mad and wanna scream!

Oh No! A noble princess should never...

Then a noble princess is not a human!

Princess!

The poor thing was all tied up!

Your Highness!

This way, Lord Akita and thank you for coming.

Princess!

This is extremely embarassing! I'm afraid she's still but a child.

No...not at all.

She's looks like an adorable little princess.

She hasn't been properly made up yet. I am truly ashamed and I must apologize to you!

No! Please don't give it another thought.

If I see her face is it really...

is the better I can divine a truely appropriate name for the princess.

Those are very welcome words.

I have every content you will look for it. Bestow upon the princess a very fine name.

Please your Highness, come out and greet this gentlemen who will give your name.

How do you do, my lord? It's an honor to meet you.

Your Highness, if you wouldn't mind perhaps you could perform on the koto for our esteemed guest.

Beautiful!

The Shining Princess of the Supple Bamboo...

The Shining Princess...

of the supple bamboo?

Yes.

She has a formal grace of the supple bamboo...

and a beauty that radiates out from her.

So then I have a name for the princess with shining light.

I thus suggest to you the name Princess Kaguya.

Yes! It's beautiful

I'm so proud, Lord Akita, that is the most wonderful name I've ever heard!

Thank you very much. As was the custom, the naming ceremony was followed by putting up the hair dawning of the trailing skirt.

soon after large numbers were invited in great numbers...

to the banquet celebrating the naming of Princess Kaguya.

Congratulations!

Princess Kaguya is a fine name. Thank you.

This is wonderful. Right? Just wonderful

There are many good gentlemen who have come to the banquet!

Then the purpose of this banquet is to celebrate the taking of my name?

Ofcourse it is, maam.

yes, but...all I'm doing is sitting here.

It's like...I'm not even on my party.

Thank you very much! Appreciate it.

And to celebrate the naming of Princess Kaguya, went on for three days and three nights.

Here to Princess Kaguya to have putting up of her hair.

A fine thing! Yes?

A fine thing! Yes? A fine thing! Yes?

Really my friend! This is all a bit pretentious, don't you think?

What?

The princess... the so called Princess

Cmon you know what we mean? Princess Kaguya or whoever...

Her flower, her face enshrined behind that whine.

Clearly there wouldn't be any harm allowing us to see her if she's as beautiful as they say?

Why not? I agree!

Oh No! I'm afraid that it would be outta the question.

What's happening? We've come here to celebrate her naming ceremony and we don't get to say hello?

Sorry! But that's just the way things are done!

What do you mean? The way things are done!

No wait!

There's no noble princess here! Yeah!

Yeah! She's no highest!

What did it cost for the naming ceremony for this princess?

Who cares about that? Atleast show her to us!

Maybe she looks something like a googlin!

Farce! Ha-ha-ha

Excuse me? Where the people living down below go?

I wouldn't know.

They packed themselves up and took off on a journey to find better wood.

Better wood?

They probably won't be back for ten years.

Ten years?

If you use up all the trees, the mountain are ruined.

But if you leave the mountain and it's power and leave for a journey...

it comes back to life. Trees need a good ten years, then you can work them!

It's like that for Charcoal burning too.

I see...but the mountain looks dead already

The leaves used to be so full and bright here...

Everything comes back eventually.

See for yourself.

The trees are already getting ready for spring.

Getting ready?

So spring will come back again?

Sure it will.

It's like a circle, just when you think one ends, another begins again.

You can always count on it.

So who might you be?

I've seen this before. I've seen that.

From that day forward, it was as if Princess Kaguya...

was a different person, devoting herself to her studies...

and passing her days in silence.

Hey look! Look at these huge pile of gifts!

From the nobility! The high born has now accepted you!

See? They obviously consider you to be one of them!

You know what? This bird deserves a much better space...

For old time's sake, how about I weave a fine bamboo cage for keepin' it?

What do you think about that huh?

Thank you, Father.

Ha-ha! Wonderful! It's wonderful!

I mean, wonderful! Wonderful!

I'll just leave the bird right here.

Thanks be the heaven!

As time went on, romors of the the princess's beauty grew.

The streets outside the mansion became cramped with people...

hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious Princess Kaguya.

Are you a servant for Princess Kaguya?

If your are then give her this! Give this to her!

No! You must give this to her!

First!

See that she gets this! Please! She needs this gift!

You must take this to her, right away!

There's another crowd of gentlemen suitors in the streets.

They've were very persistant. They gave me all these letters and demanded that I pass on to you.

And so I am, and since it seems to be impossible for...

you to go outside the mansion, I thought I bring you some cherry blossoms.

Thank you!

I hear you've summoned me, Prince Ishitsukuri?

Yes, it's about that rich upstart's daughter that you named...

Oh! You're taking about Princess Kaguya?

Shh! Keep your voice down!

Did you say Princess Kaguya?

Woh! Princess Kaguya? I've heard the romors about her.

They say she's very beautiful.

You fool! You had to raise your voice didn't you?

But don't matter how beautiful they say she is...she is still of humble birth.

So she is not a woman appropriate for any of us.

Even you have to admit Akita, Princess Kaguya is a very presumptuous name...

for a daughter of the likes of Governor Miyatsuko. No matter how much you paid for it.

Not so, Lord Minister.

This beautiful girl is not Miyatsuko's true daughter.

She was found in a bamboo stalk.

What? A bamboo stalk?

Now that's interesting! She could be some kind of forest spirit!

After I seen her with my own eyes... that is entirely possible, my lord.

Really?

I must confess, that the moment I stood before Princess kaguya...

this old man's body began to tremble...

as if a dry fountain had come flowing back to life.

Even remebering her name, words fail to express, a glimmering beauty in my heart...

surges every moment looking at her!

Out of the way!

I swear! I'll win this race!

I must get to her first!

That glimmering beauty will be mine, I tell you, nothing will stop me!

I will be the one who will win her, but me! I swear it.

She will be my wife!

Lady Sagami! You have to see these!

What is it, my lord?

Just look at these! Look at them all!

Five of the most high-born men in the land have come calling for one simple reason...

they wanna marry the Princess!

Oh, my!

Oh! Wonderful! Wonderful! All these princes are interested in her...

and even the Minister of Right!

But how do we choose among them? It's going to be a difficult challenge!

And to make it worse, they are waiting impatiently in formal dress even as we speak!

I'll take care of this. Leave Her Highness to me.

You go entertain them and whatever you do, keep them happy!

Alright, my lady!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Wonderful! Wonderful!

I just knew that banquet was worth putting on!

These are five proposals from five of the most...

important nobles in the land

Whichever one you choose, you cannot go wrong!

But I've never even met them!

Oh! Please don't worry!

This is very simple! You'll pick a proposal from one these noble gentleman and then you'll meet him on your wedding day.

It hardly matters with any of these fine princely men you'll be happy forever...

and ever!

I'm supposed to feel happy?

I have no intension of marrying anyone yet.

Have you lost your mind!

Once you have become a noble princess you must marry a suitable gentleman as quickly as possible.

That is the very defintion of happiness.

Why would you even think twice?

With any of these men, your happiness will be completely guranteed.

I do not want any of it!

So please tell those men to leave.

Do you really want to hurt your father like this?

Do you understand he is as happy for you as as he would be for himself.

Everything has been made ready for you. If you would be so kind to come this way...

Now please, express your proposal for the Princess in order.

I am Prince Kuramochi.

Princess...

as you know my true feelings clearly stated in the letter has been given to you...

Your Highness, Princess Kaguya, if I were so fortunate...

that you became my wife it would be as if I plucked a branch from the tree of jewels...

that grows on Mount Horai...

whose trunk is of gold and it's fruits the whitest of pearls.

Princess Kaguya, you are an exquiste treasure that is as unattainable...

precious as that...

I'm Prince Ishitsukuri. Princess Kaguya, if you consent to be my wife...

I will worship you morning and night. My forehead pressed to the ground in utter devotion...

you are a treasure I would revear as the stone begging bowl of Lord Buddha himself.

You would worship her as if she were some cold stone bowl?

Princess Kaguya, to me you are as a robe of fire-rat fur.

From which when thrown in the fire, all the impurities is burned away...

which itself is not consumed, only shining more brightly as the flames grown higher...

you are utterly rare. Untouched and innocent. As loose as the treasure, they speak of finding in China.

You have the goal to compare Princess Kaguya to a rat-skin?

Princess, to me... Councilor Otomo

you are a fine glistening jewel, a jewel that shines intensly from above.

A jem with more radiance than the five colored jewel that shines from the dragon's neck!

Oh! No, no, no!

To me, Princess Kaguya...

is something more precious and natural, like the warm cowry shell emulates that swallows you like a charm...

for safe birth, that is a true treasure!

A true treasure...

You think a boring everyday seashell is a treasure? You must be crazy!

Well, a dragon's neck stinks you know!

It's on the neck!

What a beautiful sound! She is truely gifted!

Gentlemen! I'm most grateful for the sentiments you expressed...

to someone never seen or met.

Yet there is something else I require...

these rare treasures that are difficult to obtain...

I ask that you bring them to me.

Then and only then I will be able to understand how you treasure me in your hearts...

Prince Kuramochi, present to me a jewel branch from Horai.

Prince Ishitsukuri, the stone begging bowl of Lord Buddha.

But...

Lord Minister of the Right Abe, bring a robe made of fire-rat fur.

Excuse me?!

Grand Counselor Otomo, obtain the jewel from the great dragon's neck.

And Middle Counselor Isonokami, please bring me the swallow's cowry shell.

The emulaet of easy child birth... Wait!

Wait! Wait...but that! No, no no no...

All these items would be impossible to find, even if they do exist!

Princess, these five gentlemen were only using them as comparisons!

Yes.

All these gentlemen compared me to very rare treasures.

Therefore, whomever can present me with the real treasure...

I will happily become that noble gentleman's real treasure.

Gentlemen please, I humbely apologize!

She knows nothing of the ways of the world.

But she must be beautiful princess. Her voice, her music...

I must say that melody was quite out of this world.

But she is asking us to achieve an impossible task...

Impossible! It can't be done!

She'll remain a jewel no one can acquire.

This is terrible!

When the nobles left, so did all the people waiting outside the mansion!

They disapperaed just like the tide going out.

Yes.

I thought I better let you know right away.

Your Highness!

Cmon! Let's go!

Where?

Outside!

Outside?

yeah! Let's go see the cherry blossoms!

You know what? we should ask mother and father to come along with us!

I'm sorry, but there is no longer anything I can do.

But, but...

The next time I'm sure that the princess will try to, ah...

There will certainly be no next time.

She has burnt her last bridge. I'll take my leave of you!

No, please don't go...

Squire, the cart the princess requested has arrived. They are waiting fro you sir.

Tell them to go on ahead without me! I'm not going!

Oh, wow!

Oh, my! Beautiful!

Stop here!

Oh, my! It's beautiful!

I'm very sorry, your Highness.

Please forgive us!

Let's go.

The cherry blossoms are right at their peak.

I must say, they're certainly splendid to experience.

Let's go home. But...

Keep everyone back!

Stay back! Stay back! Clear the space here!

There seems to be an accident right up ahead.

Oh! Someone's running this way.

Sutemaru!

Run!

Sutemaru?

This way!

Better run little one!

It's Sutemaru!

Sutemaru!

What are you doing?!

Cmon! Let's get outta here!

We're going!

Little Bamboo!

Sutemaru!

Sutemaru!

Let's go.

Three years passed...

Go on.

It's a lovely day, isn't? The plants in the garden seem to be thriving!

Yes, but you know...

it looks completely different from down here.

Well!

Yes!

See! It's like a mountain, doesn't it?

You're right.

There's the forest and a hill...

Oh my! It's just like our home. That's right!

And see the cogan grass? It just looks like a bamboo grove.

And the mugwort just looks like trees.

And Mr.Moon can rise up from right behind the mountains, couldn't it?

Yes!

And look! We can go across the bridge and climb up the hill...

Princess!

Princess! Princess! Where is the Princess?

You're in the kitchen again?

And what's wrong with that once in a while?

It's not once a while, it's all the time!

Anyway, I have news...

Prince kuramochi!

He has brought the jeweled branch from Mount Horai!

What? It's quite an accomplishment!

Impossible!

Yes, yes, yes! And I never thought such a thing would happen...

but believe me, he is true to his word! An impossible task and he pulled it off!

I wouldn't be surprised if he would had me! But he really did what he said he do!

Now! After we recieve the gift, you must prepare quickly to be married to the prince.

My heavens! I have to go!

I must prepare the bedchamber for the prince and Your Highness!

If only Lady Sagami were here!

I don't believe it!

Prepare a bedchamber...?

Where's the princess?

Quickly where is Princess Kaguya?

Please wait, Your Highness! Please wait!

Ah! Mr.Miyatsuko!

Please forgive my appearance.

I was so anxious to get here that I didn't have time to change my traveling clothes!

Your Highness!

Oh,your presence is always welcome here! This is most truely wonderful!

Please...come in! I'll show you the way.

Splendid

Without further ado, I will present the promised article.

What can I say? It's dazzling! Atleast we're speechless, what the..

It is as you requested. The jeweled branch of Mount Horai.

Princess Kaguya, can you see it? Come closer!

Here! I'll bring it closer to you.

One moment, please.

First, allow me to ask you how you found it. It must be quite a story...

Oh! It is quite a story!

Three years ago I vowed to carry out your Highness's wish...

I then set my plan in motion...

from the harbor in Naniwa I set course for the mountain of Horai.

We're tossed by fierce waves...

we nearly starved from lack of food...

and after a brutal and harrowing journey...

Behold!

What is that mountain, so forbidding yet so beautiful?

What is this?

It flows with water of gold and precious gems!

Look!

A maiden scoops water with a silver bowl!

Dear Maiden...

please tell me what is the name of that mountain?

That is the mountain of Horai.

And you are very brave to have travelled so far!

Ah! I had finally arrived at the mountain of Horai!

Without a second glance at the lovely maiden, I climbed the mountain.

Behold! Those precious, exquiste trees!

Silver branches, a trunk of gold and fruit of pearl!

So beautiful! It takes my breath away...

Are these not the jeweled branches of Horai...

everything that Princess Kaguya had wished?

And this, without haste, I snapped off this branch to bring this to your feet.

One look is worth a hundred stories.

Please, won't you see for yourself Your Highness!

Stop! You surrender!

Move! Get out of my way!

What is that? What's going on?

I'm sincerely sorry. I'll go and see.

Let go! At least she must read this letter!

What's going on?

Just pay us our fee for the jeweled branch that we made!

What's that?!

The perch they made?

I am Ayabe no Uchimaro, belonging to the Guild of Artisans.

At the order of Prince Kuramochi, we gathered together precious gems, mounted them...

and put them together as if it came from a jeweled tree from Mount Horai.

Really?

However, the Prince, made no effort to pay us what is owed!

That's an outrage!

Aw!

And since Princess Kaguya, is one of his concubines...

sorry, one of his wives was here... We decided to take action.

Ill mannered such a move maybe, but in the end, we had no choice!

Since the Prince has been avoiding us, it was our decision to try to collect our payment from her!

That's why we have come to collect from your residence!

I understand you. I'll talk to her!

So what's going on...? Woh!

Where have you gone?!

Where...where's the branch?

Father, I'm afraid the prince has taken his leave.

He has?!

We should atleast reward the artisans! They really dig quite sharp with that branch!

Next to call at the mansion was Lord Abe, Minister of the Right.

Feast you eyes on this!

It shimmers with an absolutely wonderous light!

It's extraordinary! In all the world, there's never been an engagement gift costlier than the one I'm holding here!

However if it should please Princess Kaguya...

the expense is really nothing! It's a trifle to win the heart of a lovely damsel.

In that case then...

Oh, princess is close by!

Drop it in the fire.

Huh?

Excuse me?

If it's truly made of fire-rat fur...

it will not burn but merely glisten...all the brighter.

Ofcourse, Princess!

This rat robe is no fake, it's genuine! Genuine!

If placed in the fire, it should not burn.

But I fear, between the...

Princess and myself, remains an issue...

a grain of unwarranted impurity. A question of my varasity on the subject!

Is that true? It's very possible.

All the more reason to put it in the fire.

To burn all the impurity of my doubts. Clean away!

Yes, Your Highness!

Look! You see?

Ha-ha

My entire fortune burning in my hand!

I lost everything! It's a complete disaster!

Mad is the money sucked in to this robes!

Look at it now, Look look!

It's all beacause you told me to burn it!

How much do you think the the Minister of the Right actually spent to create that fake?

I'm sure that's all I am to all those gentlemen.

What?

I'm a fake jeweled branch or a fire rat fur robe that turns to ashes.

Well both of them were very expensive it seems.

But have no fear, your suitors are trying.

I'm told that Grand Counselor Otomo has gone by ship...

he's traveling to takoshi in a brave attempt to secure the stone from the dragon's neck.

What?

He is doing everything he can to bring you to him...

It's quite a story, they say he has sent his wife quite far away

and is in the process of completely rebuilding his mansion...

A warrior's determination is a very powerful thing.

All right, Dragon! Arise and meet your fate!

Watch out!

The Dragon!

Forgive me! Forgive me!

The dragon's everywhere!

Calm down! The storm will pass.

While the warrior was facing his dragon, Prince Ishitsukuri was paying a call on Princess Kaguya.

Well, what's this? You found Buddha's begging bowl?

This is ordinary! I don't know what to say! Give this to Princess Kaguya.

So you brought something other than the bowl?

Please, just give it to her.

Well, alright...

Hey Princess, this is a gift from Prince Ishitsukuri.

Since I first heard your voice three years ago...

Princess Kaguya has not left my heart for a moment...

I set out on my quest desperately searching for Buddha's begging bowl...

Over meadow and mountain I walked, calling on temples throughout the land.

Been weary to the point of exhaustion, I sat myself by a stone on the road.

Suddenly my eye was taken by a beautiful wildflower that was growing there by my feet.

Ah! I was overwhemled by my feelings. My love for the princess spread within me...

like the blooms of that exquiste flower.

And I had a moment of inspiration, it suddenly dawned on me...

that what I wanted to bring you Princess...

and what she truely wished for was not some distant unobtainable treasure...

but this simple flower, which itself is a treasure of nature.

This flower has come to represent for me the devotion with which I love the princess

Devotion...

Princess Kaguya! In truth you are to me...

the only one I wish to dedicate my heart.

Could you please perhaps accept this lovely flower...

as a token of my depth of my feelings?

Since I was a small boy, I've been fond of flowers and other plants.

I am also entranced by the nameless flowers that grow by the roadside by meadows.

And in my heart...

I have always wished that I could live as to these flowers that bloom in the fields.

Princess, I want you to come with me to that place.

Together we could leave this loud city and its formalities.

We could goto a rich green land where flowers bloom in perfusion. Where birds chirp and fish leap.

A place brimming with life.

Let's laugh and sleep and sing. Let us follow our hearts.

Take pleasure in the tasks before us, with the blessings of the four seasons...

our needs will be supplied. And we'll spin out a beautiful tale.

Please come with me to some place far away from here!

Where flowers bloom in perfusion, where fish leap and birds sing!

Come with me to that place! Far away from here!

Please!

Excuse me! What's going on here?

Ain't a place far up here, husband?

I would love to be taken there! As you did when you said those very words!

Forgive me! I'm sorry!

I beg for your forgivness!

Would it been just like all the others?

Plucked from the field like a flower and then thrown away?

How many more princesses would be forced to shave their heads ...

and go into a nunary?

I've got it!

Get me down!

All that remaining...

was Middle Counselor Isonokami, who was in search of the mysterious cowry shell emullet.

Counselor! Counselor!

Is he alright?

The Counselor's dead?!

Yes.

A great tragedy! His back was broken...reaching for the nest!

Goodness, what's the matter?

This garden and it's fake!

Fake!

Fake!

Fake!

Fake!

All of it! Fake!

And so am I!

Stop it.

Everyone's miserable and it's all my fault.

It's not your fault. It's not. You mustn't blame yourself.

It is my fault. All of it!

It's my fault because I'm a fake!

I never wanted it to happen like this! My love!

I didn't ask for this!

That maybe true.

But it still doesn't make it your fault.

But, in spite of her wishes, there was even more talk of the Princess...

And in time, His Majesty himself became to show his interest.

She has led five of the highest nobles of the land, around by their nose!

Interesting.

Is she has so stubborn to refuse all these men, then it must be the wish of this Princess Kaguya to come to me.

Let's play her game. Send word she's to appear before me!

Yes, Your majesty.

Her father has most certainly raised her well... so when she becomes mine, give her father rank of

court official!

As your Majesty wishes.

Wonderful! It's wonderful.

Princess! Princess!

Husband! Calm down! Please

Princess!

Your Highness! I've joyous news!

You've now come to the attention of His majesty, who is summoning you to serve in his court!

What?

It's extraordinary! You'll be one of His Majesty's wives.

Not only that, I'll wear a cap of court official!

Ah! This is wonderful!

Listen to you! You still don't understand how your daughter feels?

It's you, who don't understand!

All we have done is for the sake of this!

For this fore growness land!

There is no greater happiness than joining His Majesty in holy wedlock!

At last, now after all this effort, Her Highness will be happy!

Father...

I'm sorry, but please refuse.

What?

I couldn't possibly be a court lady now.

What are you talking about? You're refusing to serve in court?

Father, my answer is no.

But, you can't...

no one in this land is allowed to disobey an order from His Majesty!

In the slightest degree! Quit thinking of yourself please!

Father for the disobedience to the majesty... if the crime is punishable by death

well then the only choice is to kill me!

Princess!

Poppa, if your happiness depends on wearing a cap of a court official...

then I will go to His Majesty as you wish.

And after you have put on that cap as part of the court, I'll kill myself.

What? She refused?

What is the meaning of this?

She has turned down an offer to live in the palace? No woman has ever turned me down before!

Very interesting! Now I truly want to meet her all the more.

If she is determined to play that game, I'll grace her mansion a surprise visit.

Yes, Your Majesty.

This way, please.

She plays the koto beautifully.

Her face is most enchanting!

Ah! Let's waste no more time with games!

Why are you doing this?!

Why to make you happy ofcourse!

My embrace pleases all women!

Let me go! I'll never be yours!

I'm afraid that's not an acceptable answer!

If I wish you to come, they you must obey!

Bring around the carriage quickly!

Where is she?

Where did she go?

I see that I acted in haste. So please show yourself, you've nothing to fear.

Please, Princess.

I will simply burn the sight of you into my eyes and then withdraw.

How beautiful you are!

Remember your promise.

I will withdraw from today.

However I believe your ultimate happiness lies in you becoming mine.

Such beauty I've never seen!

After His Majesty returned to his palace.

Princess Kaguya, would come out to the pavillion every night...

to gaze at the moon.

What's the matter, Princess?

Lately you never come in to see me.

You've left your spinning to sit and you haven't tended to your plants for days.

You spend most of the nights gazing at the moon light.

I don't understand, what is it?

What's happening with you? Nothing has happened.

It's not true. Now cmon, tell me.

It's obvious from the look in your eyes.

Don't worry, there's nothing wrong.

That's not true.

This is something you can't even tell me?

They're coming to take me back! To the moon!

The Moon?

Every night I've begged them to let me stay!

With you!

But it's no use! They're coming for me on the 15th day!

What? Whose coming?

What's this about Princess?

I'm very confused.

You have to help me here...

try to tell me in simple words and let me try to understand...

Oh! You poor thing! There is something deep behind this, isn't there?

The truth is, the day you found me... I was was sent here from the Moon.

From the Moon?!

Oh! The Moon put you in the Bamboo?

Yes.

I understood it the day His Majesty was here.

And now on the 15th day, the people of the Moon will come for me...

and I must leave you both forever.

What? I don't understand! You planning to leave us?

What have we done to deserve this?

I mean, from the start all we have tried to make sure is you were always happy!

All this happiness you wished for me has been very hard to bear.

Without realizing it...

I prayed for someone to save me.

When His Majesty grabbed me, in panic my heart just screamed out...

I don't want to be here anymore!

You mean, you asked them here to take you back to the moon?

That's just terrible!

What have you done?!

I don't want to go back, Poppa. I wanna stay here!

I won't let it happen! We'll fight to keep you!

We'll figure something out, I just won't let them pass!

It's too late!

They are coming!

What have I been doing here in this land?

Throwing tantrums because I didn't want to belong to anyone...

ignoring what you want...

and fooling myself with fake meadows and mountains!

Only now, when I'm forced to back to the Moon, do i finally remember...

why I came here and why it is no matter what is happening...

in this strange land, that song has always been inside my heart.

* Birds, bugs, beasts * * Grass, flowers and trees *

Yes, that's the song.

I was born, I was born to live here! With the birds, bugs and beasts.

I don't want to leave!

You won't! We wont let you go!

One day I found you in bamboo and held you in jeopardy in my arms...

I've loved you and reared as my own child!

And when I picked you up and cradled you, put you on your feet and closed way...

I was the happiest man on the face of the Earth, I was in Heaven

It's not too late!

You're still here!

You are still here in my arms! And this arms of mine will drive them away!

I will not let them take you! No matter how many of them come! I'll fight them off!

Is everyone?!

Prepare to defend the princess!

Oh Poppa! I'm sorry.

My Heavens! That's a lot of noise they are making!

How about a song to make us feel better?

* Go Round, go round *

* Waterwheel, go round *

* Go round, and call Mr.Sun *

* Birds, bugs, beasts * * Grass, flowers and trees *

* Spring, summer, autumn, winter * * Bring them all on *

* Go round, go round * * Waterwheel go round *

* Go round and call Mr.Sun *

* Spring, summer, autumn, winter * * Bring them all on *

* Spring, summer, autumn, winter * * Bring them all on *

* Go round, go round * * Distant time *

* Come round, O distant time *

* Come round, call back the heart * * Come round, call back the heart *

* Birds, bugs, beasts * * Grass, flowers and trees *

* Teach people how to feel *

* If I hear that you pine for me *

* I will be the one to return to you * * I will want to return to you *

I wasn't aware there was another verse.

I remember...

long ago in the city of the moon, a woman who had returned from Earth, would sing this song.

When you put on the robe of the Moon, all memory of Earth just disapear.

All grief and sadness are gone.

But when she sang that song, I saw tears fall from her eyes.

Was such a mystery to me. I had to know what these feelings from Earth were?

Ah! That's why I broke the rules to come to this place.

I wanted to feel all the things she felt and now...

I know exactly what she was feeling looking back at this land.

Tell me dear...

She wanted...

to come back here. To feel all those wonderful mysterious things again!

I know it.

If I hear that you pine for me, I will want to return to you.

If you are truly waiting for me, I will want to return to you...

come around and call back my heart.

I just wanna go home!

Prepare a carriage. No a word to anyone.

Ginger flowers!

It's been a long time.

Num-nums!

What's the matter? Hungry again?

Did anybody hear that?

Hear what?

I'll go look.

Sutemaru, it's you!

It's you?

Little Bamboo?

Is it okay if call you that?

You're just coming back here for the new trees.

For some reason coming over the pass, I thought I heard your voice, singing.

I'm so happy to see you!

Uh, yeah.

Tell me? What are you doing here, dressed like that?

All this time I've wanted to come back to my real home.

Your real home?

Here?

Uh-hmm.

aren't you happy in the capital?

Living in a mansion, eating fine food, very nice clothes...

All the time I was wishing I was here in the mountain playing with everyone.

Well, everyone's gonna be here soon.

And with you, Sutemaru...

With you, Sutemaru, I know I would have been truely happy.

Happy, with me?

Now I realize that.

you're joking, right!

I don't think you feel that way. Living like us!

Sure I would! I did live like you when we were kids.

In rags like these?

Half-starving, eating roots?

Sometimes stealing dinner because you hadn't eaten days?

I saw that! Yeah!

I also saw when they beat you up.

Oh that? That was nothing.

It's nothing if you answer back! Back by simply being alive!

I just know I would have been happy.

Little Bamboo!

But it won't happen.

It's too late.

What do you mean?

Ah! you are promised to His Majesty?

No!

I'll not belong to anyone!

Let's run away...

It can't happen.

Why not? We can leave right now.

Let's run.

Come with me! We will go!

I'll carry you on my back and run forever!

We'll go some place where nobody can ever find us.

I can't run away. Not any more.

Ofcourse you can, Little Bamboo!

I'll protect you! I'll protect you from everyone!

But they're coming for me.

Whose coming for you?

I've been found.

So what? Even if you've been found.

So what?!

I don't care about that?

I wanna run away with you!

Please!

Sutemaru!

Yes!

I'll run, too! As fast as I can!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

Sutemaru!

O Heaven o Earth! Take me in!

No! Huh?

Please just...

let me stay a little longer!

To feel the joy and happiness living on this Earth! Please don't take me away!

It's alright Little bamboo.

I'll hold you tight! Won't ever let go!

Hold me tighter! I don't wanna go!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

Little Bamboo!

A dream?

It wasn't real?

Da-dada!

Da-dada! Hi...

Da-dada!

And then at last the 15th day of August came round.

Fire!

Princess!

Princess!

Princess!

Princess!

Princess!

Princess...

* Birds, bugs, beasts *

* Grass, flowers and trees *

* Flower, bear fruit, and die *

* Be born, grow up, and die *

* Still the wind blows, the rain falls *

* The waterwheel goes round *

* Lifetimes come and go in turn *

* Lifetimes come and go in turn *

Princess!

Lifetimes come and go in turn

Princess! Don't leave us!

Not yet!

Please, not yet.

Once I don this robe...

I will forget everything I know and love about this land.

So please just for a moment.

Princess! Daughter!

Please!

Take us with you! Take us with you!

Forgive me, Momma and Poppa! Please forgive me!

Now now, let us go.

This heavy heart will no longer trouble you in the City of the Moon with this memory of this impure Earth.

would have commulined forever.

It's not impure!

There is grief and sorrow here...

There is also joy and happiness!

There's birds, bugs, beasts...

All of those who live on Earth, experience them in different shapes

All feel compassion.

Princess! No!

Princess!

Princess!

Voices: Aki Asakura, Kengo Kora

Takeo Chii, Nobuko Miyamoto

Supervising Animator: Kenichi Konishi

Key Animation: Shinji Hashimoto, Takayuki Hamada

Masashi Ando, Akiko Yamaguchi

Paint Outline & Texture Animation: Masaya Saito

Animation Check: Maiko Nogami

Color Setting: Yukiko Kakita

Director of Digital Imaging: Keisuke Nakamura

English Translation: Ian MacDougall

Subtitles: Aura Rieko Izutsu-Vajirasarn, Studio Ghibli

Production: Koji Hoshino, Studio Ghibli

Producer: Yoshiaki Nishimura

Direction: Isao Takahata