Taketori no Okina, the Bamboo Cutter, is an elderly man harvesting bamboo for a living. Initially poor and childless, he resides with his wife in a simple dwelling near a bamboo forest. His life transforms upon discovering a glowing bamboo stalk containing a miniature infant girl, whom he names Kaguya-hime. Believing her a divine gift, he and his wife adopt and raise her.

Following Kaguya-hime's discovery, he consistently finds gold nuggets and precious stones inside bamboo stalks, accumulating significant wealth. He utilizes this fortune to construct a large mansion and elevate his social standing. As Kaguya-hime matures rapidly into a woman of exceptional beauty, he grows protective, attempting to shield her from outsiders, though news of her allure spreads, attracting noble suitors.

Convinced marriage secures her future, he pressures the reluctant Kaguya-hime to choose a husband. He relays her impossible tasks to the suitors—retrieving the Buddha's stone bowl or a jeweled branch from Hōrai—hoping one succeeds. When the Emperor proposes, he supports the union, viewing it as the ultimate social advancement.

His ambitions clash with Kaguya-hime's desires. He orchestrates her move to the capital, imposing aristocratic customs like teeth blackening and elaborate attire, causing her profound distress. This highlights his prioritization of societal expectations over her well-being. Later, he dismisses her tearful confessions of celestial origins as irrational until she reveals her imminent return to the moon.

During her departure, he pleads futilely with the celestial envoys to spare Kaguya-hime, demonstrating his helplessness against supernatural forces. After her ascension, he and his wife fall gravely ill from grief, symbolizing their earthly attachment and loss. His character embodies the tension between paternal love and worldly ambition, culminating in his realization of life's impermanence.