The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is a monogatari containing elements of Japanese folklore. Written by an unknown author in the late 9th or early 10th century during the Heian period, it is considered the oldest surviving work in the monogatari form.
Taketori no Okina takes Kaguya-hime to his home, painting c. 1650
Discovery of Kaguya-hime, late 17th century depiction
Heavenly beings descend, depiction c. 1650
Princess Kaguya returns to the Moon. 1888 print by Yoshitoshi.
Eiji Tsuburaya
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Eiji Tsuburaya was a Japanese special effects director, filmmaker, and cinematographer. A co-creator of the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises, he is considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of cinema. Known as the "Father of Tokusatsu", he pioneered Japan's special effects industry, introducing several technological developments in film productions. In a career spanning five decades, Tsuburaya worked on approximately 250 films—including globally renowned features directed by Ishirō Honda, Hiroshi Inagaki, and Akira Kurosawa—and earned six Japan Technical Awards.
Tsuburaya with his mother Sei, c. 1902. Sei died of illness shortly after giving birth to her second son.
Tsuburaya (far right) with fellow Imperial Japanese Army comrades, c. 1922
Tsuburaya riding his iron shooting crane in 1934. An adaptation of this crane is still used worldwide today.