Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife.
The old man spent every day cutting down bamboo trees and making
baskets and trays out of them.
One day, he went to the bamboo forest as usual and set eyes on one
bamboo tree that was shining with light at the bottom.
Stricken with curiosity, the old man cut the tree at a point just
above where the light was shining, and to his surprise, a beautiful baby
girl sat huddled inside.
He lifted the baby carefully onto the palm of his hand and carried
her back home.
The old man and his wife had never had any children. They named the
baby Shining Princess and took very great care of her.
