Once upon a time, there lived a kind old couple on a small farm. The couple was childless for many years, which made them very unhappy. One day, they went to a nearby shrine and prayed to the deity for a baby.

“Please let us have a child,” appealed the man.

“We would be happy with any child even if the child is just an inch tall,” added the lady.

Eventually, a boy was born to the couple. He was only an inch tall. They named him Issun-Boshi¹ that means “one-inch boy” or “one-inch samurai”. Issun was a brilliant and cheerful kid who was loved by everyone who met him.

As years passed, all the animals and plants on the couple’s farm grew bigger and taller, but Issun despite growing older, remained the same size.

“How I wish I can grow tall and become a regular-sized man,” thought Issun-Boshi.

After a few years, Issun told his parents, “I want to become a warrior in the emperor’s army. I want your permission to leave home.”

Issun’s parents were worried for him, but knowing how smart and capable their son was, they agreed. They gifted him with a rice bowl for a boat, chopstick for oars, a sewing needle for a sword and a straw for a sheath².

Issun set off for the palace and on the way, he reached a river. To cross the river, he sat on bowl-boat and paddled using his chopstick-oars until he reached the emperor’s palace.

When Issun-Boshi reached the palace, he spoke to the guards guarding the gates, “I have come to meet our Emperor. I want to become a warrior in his army.”

Unfortunately, Issun was tiny, so the guards did not notice him. He tried to catch the guards’ attention. First, he waved his hands. Then, he yelled at the guards. It was of no use. Finally, he threw a small stone on one of the guards who quickly noticed him.

“Who are you, and what do you want?” asked the guard.

“I have come to meet our emperor. I want to become a warrior in his army,” repeated Issun-Boshi.

“What can you do? You are so tiny,” replied the amused guard. Nevertheless, he carried Issun to the Emperor.

The emperor took an immediate liking for Issun, so he employed him to protect his daughter. At first, the princess was irritated since Issun followed her wherever she went.

Eventually, the princess began admiring Issun-Boshi’s intelligence and wit, and both of them became good friends. One day, the princess went to a temple along with Issun. While passing through a forest, two ogres blocked their path.

As one of the ogres was about to grab the princess, Issun jumped in front of her. Unsheathing his sword, he said, “Stop. Don’t touch her.”

The ogres laughed. One of them picked up Issun and put him in its mouth. Issun used his sword and poked the insides of the ogre’s mouth. Yelping in pain, the ogre spat Issun out.

Issun then poked the other ogre in its eyes. Screaming, both of them ran away. While running away, one of the ogres dropped its hammer.

The princess tried lifting the hammer but could not do so. She said, “I wish you were tall and powerful, Issun. Then you can lift this hammer.”

The next second, Issun grew tall – taller than the princess. Both of them were at first astonished at this sudden miracle. But soon they realized the hammer had magical powers that could grant them anything that they wished. Happily, they took the hammer and returned to the palace.

Eventually, the princess and Issun fell in love and married each other, and they both lived happily, ruling the Kingdom together in a just manner.

¹ sun is a unit of measurement meaning 3 cm

² Covering for the sword