The Thief of Moonlight Castle (1948)

Princess Yuzuki, the only daughter of Moonlight Castle had no shortage of people asking for her hand. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the princess asked the astrologer Priest Jien to divine who her future husband would be. He replied, “The man who touches the rose that blooms at night in the castle will become your husband.” That night, Princess Yuzuki went out to watch the Harvest Festival dance and was accosted by a drunken man. Just then, a young man named Yoshimaru, riding a horse and accompanied by two retainers, appeared dashingly and rescued the princess. Yoshimaru fell in love with her charm at first sight and tried to pluck a rose blooming beneath her window to present to her, but failed. Soon after, following the princess’s wish to choose a husband based on character rather than reputation, a public notice reading “Seeking a Husband for Princess Yuzuki” was posted.