The One-Inch Boy

Long, long ago, in a village in Japan, there lived an old man and an old woman. They had no children. Every night they prayed: "Let us have a child, however small." One day their prayer was answered; the son born to them was exactly as tall as a thumb. They named him Issun, which means "one inch".

Years passed, but Issun never grew. Still, he was very cheerful and very clever. One day he said to his parents: "I want to go to the big city and see the world." His mother gave him a rice bowl to use as a boat. His father made an oar from a chopstick and a sword from a sewing needle. Issun climbed into his bowl and rowed down the river.

When he reached the city, he came to the gate of a great mansion. "Is anyone there?" he called. The lord of the mansion opened the door but could see no one. Then he looked down, and beside his shoe stood a tiny boy. Issun bowed: "I would like to serve you." The lord laughed, but he liked the boy's good manners. Issun stayed at the mansion; he carried letters, read books to the lord's daughter and made everyone laugh.

One day, as he was going to the temple with the lord's daughter, a huge ogre blocked their way. The ogre wanted to carry the girl off. Issun drew his needle and shouted, "Don't touch her!" The ogre roared with laughter and swallowed Issun in one gulp. But inside the ogre's belly, Issun began jabbing here and there with his needle. "Ow! Ouch! Stop!" cried the ogre, and he spat Issun out and fled into the mountains.

As the ogre ran, he dropped something: a small magic mallet. The girl picked up the mallet, shook it and made a wish: "Let Issun grow!" Each time the mallet was shaken, Issun grew a little taller, until at last he was a handsome young man.

Issun brought his parents to the city, and they all lived happily together. Being small never stopped him, because courage is not measured by height.