A Japanese Folk Tale:

1
A Japanese Folk Tale Kaguya Hime
2
Long, long ago in Japan, there lived a poor
woodsman. One day, he was cutting bamboo in a
grove when he came upon one stalk of bamboo
glowing a bright, golden color. Finding this
mysterious, he approached it for a closer look.
3
Oops! Try reading this section again..
Long, long ago in Japan, there lived a poor
woodsman. One day, he was cutting bamboo in a
grove when he came upon one stalk of bamboo
glowing a bright, golden color. Finding this
mysterious, he approached it for a closer look.
4
1. Who was the character in the first
paragraph? A) A farmer B) A fisherman C) A
woodsman
5
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
6
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Long, long ago in Japan, there lived a poor
woodsman. One day, he was cutting bamboo in a
grove when he came upon one stalk of bamboo
glowing a bright, golden color. Finding this
mysterious, he approached it for a closer look.
7
2. What was the man cutting? A) grass B)
bamboo C) logs
8
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
9
.
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Long, long ago in Japan, there lived a poor
woodsman. One day, he was cutting bamboo in a
grove when he came upon one stalk of bamboo
glowing a bright, golden color. Finding this
mysterious, he approached it for a closer look.
10

• What did the woodsman find mysterious?
• A) the bamboo was glowing
• B) the bamboo disappeared
• C) the bamboo was on fire

11
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
12
To his amazement, inside the bamboo was an
adorable, tiny little girl. Since the old man and
his wife had no children of their own, he decided
to bring the child home with him, where he and
his wife raised her with love and care. They
decided to name her Kaguya Hime. From that time
forward, whenever the woodsman went back to work
in the grove, gold coins would come pouring out
from the bamboo he cut. As a result, the old
couple became wealthy.
13
Oops! Try reading this section again.
To his amazement, inside the bamboo was an
adorable, tiny little girl. Since the old man and
his wife had no children of their own, he decided
to bring the child home with him, where he and
his wife raised her with love and care. They
decided to name her Kaguya Hime. From that time
forward, whenever the woodsman went back to work
in the grove, gold coins would come pouring out
from the bamboo he cut. As a result, the old
couple became wealthy.
14
4. What did the woodsman find in the bamboo? A)
gold coins an animal B) a baby an animal C)
a baby gold coins
15
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
16
Oops! Try reading this section again.
To his amazement, inside the bamboo was an
adorable, tiny little girl. Since the old man and
his wife had no children of their own, he decided
to bring the child home with him, where he and
his wife raised her with love and care. They
decided to name her Kaguya Hime. From that time
forward, whenever the woodsman went back to work
in the grove, gold coins would come pouring out
from the bamboo he cut. As a result, the old
couple became wealthy.
17
5. What did the woodsman do with the baby? A)
left her in the bamboo B) took her home C) took
her to an orphanage
18
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
19
Amazingly, within just three months Kaguya Hime
grew into a beautiful maiden. Her beauty soon
became known throughout the country, and one
young man after another came forth to ask her
hand in marriage. Kaguya Hime refused all of her
suitors, but there were five insistent young
noblemen who refused to give up. In order to
dissuade them, Kaguya Hime asked for a gift from
each, and promised to marry the first one to
bring her the gift she had requested. But these
items were not things that could be found
anywhere on this earth, and so the five young
noblemen soon lost heart and gave up.
20
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Amazingly, within just three months Kaguya Hime
grew into a beautiful maiden. Her beauty soon
became known throughout the country, and one
young man after another came forth to ask her
hand in marriage. Kaguya Hime refused all of her
suitors, but there were five insistent young
noblemen who refused to give up. In order to
dissuade them, Kaguya Hime asked for a gift from
each, and promised to marry the first one to
bring her the gift she had requested. But these
items were not things that could be found
anywhere on this earth, and so the five young
noblemen soon lost heart and gave up.
21
6. How long did it take Kaguya Hima to become
a beautiful maiden? A) 3 months B) 3
years C) 13 years
22
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
23
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Amazingly, within just three months Kaguya Hime
grew into a beautiful maiden. Her beauty soon
became known throughout the country, and one
young man after another came forth to ask her
hand in marriage. Kaguya Hime refused all of her
suitors, but there were five insistent young
noblemen who refused to give up. In order to
dissuade them, Kaguya Hime asked for a gift from
each, and promised to marry the first one to
bring her the gift she had requested. But these
items were not things that could be found
anywhere on this earth, and so the five young
noblemen soon lost heart and gave up.
24
7. What did the noblemen want from Kaguya
Hime? A) to marry her B) to get her gold C)
to get her magic
25
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
26
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Amazingly, within just three months Kaguya Hime
grew into a beautiful maiden. Her beauty soon
became known throughout the country, and one
young man after another came forth to ask her
hand in marriage. Kaguya Hime refused all of her
suitors, but there were five insistent young
noblemen who refused to give up. In order to
dissuade them, Kaguya Hime asked for a gift from
each, and promised to marry the first one to
bring her the gift she had requested. But these
items were not things that could be found
anywhere on this earth, and so the five young
noblemen soon lost heart and gave up.
27
8. What did Kaguya Hime want from the
noblemen? A) bamboo B) a gift C) gold
28
Correct! Yoku dekimashita..
29
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Amazingly, within just three months Kaguya Hime
grew into a beautiful maiden. Her beauty soon
became known throughout the country, and one
young man after another came forth to ask her
hand in marriage. Kaguya Hime refused all of her
suitors, but there were five insistent young
noblemen who refused to give up. In order to
dissuade them, Kaguya Hime asked for a gift from
each, and promised to marry the first one to
bring her the gift she had requested. But these
items were not things that could be found
anywhere on this earth, and so the five young
noblemen soon lost heart and gave up.
30
9. What happened as a result of the noblemen
not being able to give Kaguya Hime the gifts
she requested? A) they gave her other
gifts B) they tried harder C) they gave up
31
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
32
In the meantime the Emperor, who had heard of
Kaguya Hime's beauty, also began courting the
girl to become his wife and Empress. He too was
refused. When the Emperor tried to force Kaguya
Hime to come to the palace, she disappeared right
before his eyes. The Emperor then realized that
there was something unusual about Kaguya Hime,
and so he too gave up.
33
Oops! Try reading this section again.
In the meantime the Emperor, who had heard of
Kaguya Hime's beauty, also began courting the
girl to become his wife and Empress. He too was
refused. When the Emperor tried to force Kaguya
Hime to come to the palace, she disappeared right
before his eyes. The Emperor then realized that
there was something unusual about Kaguya Hime,
and so he too gave up.
34
10. Did Kaguya Hime marry the Emperor? A)
yes B) no
35
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
36
Oops! Try reading this section again.
In the meantime the Emperor, who had heard of
Kaguya Hime's beauty, also began courting the
girl to become his wife and Empress. He too was
refused. When the Emperor tried to force Kaguya
Hime to come to the palace, she disappeared right
before his eyes. The Emperor then realized that
there was something unusual about Kaguya Hime,
and so he too gave up.
37
11. What happened when the Emperor tried to
force Kaguya Hime to come to the palace? A)
she went to the palace B) she disappeared C)
she ran away
38
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
39
Three years passed and Kaguya Hime became even
more beautiful. Then, one spring, Kaguya Hime
began to grow melancholy on moonlit nights. She
would stare at the moon with tears streaming down
her face. The old woodsman, worried, asked what
was wrong. Gazing up at the sky, Kaguya Hime
replied, "Actually, I come from the moon. I was
sent to live on the earth by my King, but now I
have been told that I must go home. I will miss
everyone here on earth, and that is why I am
sad."
40
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Three years passed and Kaguya Hime became even
more beautiful. Then, one spring, Kaguya Hime
began to grow melancholy on moonlit nights. She
would stare at the moon with tears streaming down
her face. The old woodsman, worried, asked what
was wrong. Gazing up at the sky, Kaguya Hime
replied, "Actually, I come from the moon. I was
sent to live on the earth by my King, but now I
have been told that I must go home. I will miss
everyone here on earth, and that is why I am
sad."
41
12. Where did Kaguya Hime actually come
from? A) the moon B) the bamboo C) earth
42
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
43
Oops! Try reading this section again.
Three years passed and Kaguya Hime became even
more beautiful. Then, one spring, Kaguya Hime
began to grow melancholy on moonlit nights. She
would stare at the moon with tears streaming down
her face. The old woodsman, worried, asked what
was wrong. Gazing up at the sky, Kaguya Hime
replied, "Actually, I come from the moon. I was
sent to live on the earth by my King, but now I
have been told that I must go home. I will miss
everyone here on earth, and that is why I am
sad."
44
13. Why was Kaguya Hime sad? A) because she
was lonely B) because she wanted to marry the
Emperor C) because she had to go back to the
moon
45
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
46
The old man was shocked, and not wanting to let
his beloved daughter go, consulted with the
Emperor to devise a plan. On the night of the
full moon, the Emperor's guards hid Kaguya Hime
deep inside the woodsman's house and surrounded
it. Suddenly, the night sky became bright.
Messengers from the moon dressed in brilliant
clothes came down from the sky and descended to
the earth on a cloud. At this sight, the guards
become petrified and lost their courage. The
messengers placed Kaguya Hime onto a palanquin
and dressed her in a feathered robe. Leaving the
heartbroken old couple behind, Kaguya Hime took
off to the moon.
47
Oops! Try reading this section again.
The old man was shocked, and not wanting to let
his beloved daughter go, consulted with the
Emperor to devise a plan. On the night of the
full moon, the Emperor's guards hid Kaguya Hime
deep inside the woodsman's house and surrounded
it. Suddenly, the night sky became bright.
Messengers from the moon dressed in brilliant
clothes came down from the sky and descended to
the earth on a cloud. At this sight, the guards
become petrified and lost their courage. The
messengers placed Kaguya Hime onto a palanquin
and dressed her in a feathered robe. Leaving the
heartbroken old couple behind, Kaguya Hime took
off to the moon.
48
14. Because the old man did not want to lose
his daughter, he devised the plan to A)
hide her in the bamboo B) hide her in the
Emperors palace C) hide her in a house with
guards surrounding it
49
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
50
Oops! Try reading this section again.
The old man was shocked, and not wanting to let
his beloved daughter go, consulted with the
Emperor to devise a plan. On the night of the
full moon, the Emperor's guards hid Kaguya Hime
deep inside the woodsman's house and surrounded
it. Suddenly, the night sky became bright.
Messengers from the moon dressed in brilliant
clothes came down from the sky and descended to
the earth on a cloud. At this sight, the guards
become petrified and lost their courage. The
messengers placed Kaguya Hime onto a palanquin
and dressed her in a feathered robe. Leaving the
heartbroken old couple behind, Kaguya Hime took
off to the moon.
51
15. In the end, what did Kaguya Hime do? A)
she went to the moon B) she lived happily ever
after with the old couple C) she lived
happily ever after with the Emperor
52
Correct! Yoku dekimashita.
53

• Compare and Contrast
• Kaguya Hime Cinderella
• How are they similar?
• How are they different?