Issun-bōshi - Japanese

My world has always been a little different from yours. From my home inside a warm, cozy cottage, the leg of a table looks like a tall forest tree, and a single drop of rain feels like a whole river splashing down. My name is Issun-bōshi, and when I was born on January 1st, many years ago, I was no bigger than my father's thumb. My parents, who had wished for a child for so long, loved me with all their hearts, but they worried about my future. How could someone so small make their way in such a big world? But even though my body was tiny, my spirit was as big as the tallest mountain. I listened to stories of brave samurai and faraway cities, and a dream grew inside me. I wanted to see the capital, to become a warrior, and to show everyone that courage is not measured by size. This is the story of how I, the one-inch boy, set out on a great adventure, a tale the people of Japan have called Issun-bōshi for hundreds of years.

The day I decided to leave, my parents were sad but proud. They helped me prepare for my journey. For a sword, my mother gave me a sharp sewing needle, which I tucked into a scabbard made from a piece of straw. For a boat, my father gave me a wooden soup bowl, and for an oar, a single chopstick. Can you imagine sailing in a soup bowl? I set off down the river, my bowl-boat bobbing on the gentle current. The journey to the capital city of Kyoto was filled with wonders and dangers. A hungry frog with bulging eyes looked at me like a tasty snack, but I bravely waved my needle-sword until it hopped away with a loud 'Gero gero'. In Kyoto, the city buzzed with more people than I had ever seen. The sounds and smells were overwhelming. I found my way to the grand house of a wealthy lord and announced, in my biggest voice, that I was there to seek employment. The lord, a powerful man named Sanjō, was amused by my tiny but determined spirit. He made me a retainer to his beautiful daughter, the princess. I became her loyal companion, reading to her and guarding her from insects. One day, as we walked through the woods, a terrifying oni—a giant, green-skinned ogre with sharp horns—leapt out to capture the princess. Without a second thought, I drew my needle-sword and charged. The oni laughed a terrible laugh and swallowed me in one gulp. But the fight wasn't over. Inside the dark, rumbling stomach, I poked and pricked with my needle until the oni roared in pain, spat me out, and fled into the forest, dropping a magical hammer.

The princess ran to me, overjoyed that I was safe. She picked up the hammer the oni had dropped. 'This is an Uchide no kozuchi,' she explained, her eyes wide with wonder, 'a magic mallet that can grant wishes.' She asked me what I wished for most. I looked at her and said, 'My only wish is to be a samurai worthy of protecting you.' The princess smiled, swung the mallet, and wished for me to grow. In a flash of brilliant light, I grew into a handsome, full-sized young man. I was finally the size I had always felt on the inside. I became a respected samurai in the lord's service, and in time, the princess and I were married, living happily for the rest of our days. For centuries, my story has been told to children all across Japan. It teaches that it doesn’t matter how small you are on the outside; it’s the size of your courage and the strength of your heart that make you a true hero. My tale inspires everyone to face their own 'onis' with bravery and reminds us that even the smallest person can achieve the greatest dreams.