Issun-boshi

Long ago, in the province of Settsu, in the village of Naniwa, there lived a husband and wife. They had plenty of everything, but one sorrow—they had no children. They began to fervently pray to the deity Sumiyoshi, asking for even the smallest child, even one the size of a finger.

Soon after, a tiny boy was born to them. The husband and wife were overjoyed. They began to raise their son, but the child didn’t grow—he remained no bigger than a finger. So they named him Issun-boshi (One-Inch Boy).

Seven years passed, but Issun-boshi remained the same size. Whenever he went outside, the neighborhood children would shout:
"Look, there goes that little pea rolling along! Be careful not to step on him!"
But Issun-boshi would just smile.

When Issun-boshi turned sixteen, he came to his parents one day and said:
"Let me leave home."
"Where are you planning to go?" asked his father, surprised.
"I want to go to Kyoto."
"What will you do in Kyoto?"
"In Kyoto, the capital of Japan, the Emperor himself lives. I’ll find something to do. I want to test my fate."
"Very well, go ahead," agreed his father.

Issun-boshi was delighted and began preparing for his journey. He asked his mother for a sewing needle, fashioned a hilt for it, and made a scabbard from a straw—it became his sword. He tucked it into his belt. Then he found a small wooden bowl, turned it into a boat, and carved oars from chopsticks.
"Goodbye, Father. Goodbye, Mother. Stay well and happy!"

Issun-boshi climbed into his little boat and set off up the Yodogawa River. He sailed slowly—whenever the wind blew or the rain fell, his boat nearly capsized. During such weather, Issun-boshi had no choice but to hide in the crevices between riverside rocks or rest under a bridge near the pilings. He sailed this way for a month and finally arrived at Toba, from where Kyoto was just a stone’s throw away.

Kyoto was full of streets. Luxurious carriages, crowds of elegantly dressed people; endless noise and bustle. This was the capital of Japan!

Issun-boshi was overwhelmed. Forgetting everything, he wandered through the big city and suddenly found himself before a palace with beautiful gates.
"This must be the home of a noble lord," thought Issun-boshi. "I’ll go and serve him."

Indeed, the palace belonged to Sanjo, the Prime Minister of the imperial court.
Issun-boshi entered the palace and shouted as loudly as he could:
"Hello, masters!"

By chance, the Prime Minister was in the front hall and heard the call. He came out, looked around—and saw no one. "What’s this?" wondered the nobleman. He began to inspect the entrance and suddenly, down by the row of *ashida* (Japanese wooden sandals on high platforms), he spotted a tiny boy no bigger than a finger.
"Was that you shouting?" asked the minister, surprised.
"Yes, it was me."
"Who are you?"
"I’m from the village of Naniwa, and my name is Issun-boshi."
"Indeed, Issun-boshi! Why have you come to me?"
"I’ve come to Kyoto to seek my fortune. Take me into your palace, and I’ll serve you faithfully."
"What an amusing little fellow! Very well, stay!" agreed the minister.

And so Issun-boshi began serving in the Prime Minister’s palace. Though he was small in stature, he carried out all his tasks diligently and carefully. He showed intelligence and resourcefulness in everything he did, and soon everyone in the household grew fond of him. All you could hear was: "Issun-boshi! Issun-boshi!"

But the one who loved him most was the Prime Minister’s daughter, a thirteen-year-old beauty. Issun-boshi secretly sighed for her but said nothing, afraid he’d be laughed at and driven away. He simply served her faithfully, and the two became inseparable.

One day, the minister’s daughter went to worship at the temple of the goddess of mercy. As always, she took Issun-boshi with her. On the way back, two enormous demons suddenly appeared on the road, blocking their path and reaching out their terrible claws toward the girl.

The girl was terrified and began to run. The demons chased her, nearly catching her! But then Issun-boshi threw himself at the demons’ feet.
"Hey, you! Don’t you see who’s coming?" he shouted loudly. "This is the daughter of Sanjo, the Prime Minister of the imperial court. Get out of the way! Make room!"

The demons were surprised: where was this tiny voice coming from? They looked down and saw a little man standing in a warrior’s stance, waving a needle like a sword.

The demons burst into laughter:
"Ha-ha-ha! Such a little bug, and he dares to threaten us! We’ll swallow you whole!"

With that, one of the demons grabbed Issun-boshi, popped him into his mouth, and swallowed him. Issun-boshi, with his needle-sword in hand, ended up in the demon’s stomach. He began running around and stabbing the demon with his needle from the inside. The demon couldn’t stand it. The sharp pain took his breath away, and he howled, rolling on the ground. Finally, he took a deep breath and, along with the air, expelled Issun-boshi out.

Issun-boshi swung his sword and charged at the demon again.
"You scoundrel! Take this!" shouted the other demon, grabbing Issun-boshi and shoving him into his mouth.

Issun-boshi made his way through the demon’s throat, into his nostrils, and then into his eyes, where he began stabbing the demon’s pupils.

The demon jumped in pain, and from the force of the leap, Issun-boshi flew out of his eye and landed on the ground.

Screaming wildly, the demon ran away, and the other followed.
"Well, did you learn your lesson?" shouted Issun-boshi after them. "You call yourselves demons? Pathetic bugs, that’s what you are! Don’t let me catch you again!"

He returned to the frightened girl and helped her calm down. When she came to her senses, she said:
"Thank you! You saved me from a terrible death. When we get home, I’ll tell my father everything; he’ll reward you generously."

They cheerfully headed back to the palace, but along the way, they came across a small mallet lying on the ground.
"Where did this come from?" wondered the girl.
"The demons must have dropped it in their hurry," said Issun-boshi, picking up the mallet and examining it.
"Hmm," he said. "This doesn’t seem like an ordinary mallet—it’s a magical one. If you tap it, whatever you wish will come true. Let me try wishing for some height!"

He swung the mallet and said:
"Issun-boshi, grow big! Become like everyone else!"

He tapped the mallet once—and instantly grew by a whole *shaku* (about 30 centimeters). He tapped it again—and grew another three *shaku*. He tapped it a third time—and became a tall, handsome young man.

Issun-boshi was overjoyed, and the girl was happy too. They returned home and told everyone what had happened. All praised Issun-boshi’s bravery and marveled at his miraculous transformation.

Word of this reached the Emperor. He summoned Issun-boshi to the palace, bestowed gifts upon him, and granted him the rank of general. Some time later, the Prime Minister gave his daughter to Issun-boshi in marriage. Issun-boshi’s parents came from Naniwa, and they all lived together happily ever after.

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Issun-boshi

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