The One Inch Boy

( The Legend from Japan )

In Japan there was an old couple that wished for a child. They wished for a child of any kind, even if he was only an inch tall. And their wish was granted. They got a child and sure enough he grew no taller than one inch. They named him Issun-Boshi which meant One Inch Boy.

One day Issun-Boshi decided he wanted to see the world. His parents wanted Oshi to have a fun life so they gave him a bowl, chopsticks and a needle he could use as a sword and waved goodbye.

When Issun-Boshi came to the city, he was taken into care of a nobleman and was a servant for the princess. Issun-Boshi and the princess became good friends. One day on their way back from a nearby temple, they were stopped by a large green demon called an oni.

The princess thought she was doomed for surely she could not be saved by a one. But the one inch boy acted quickly. He climbed the oni quickly and poked it in the tongue with his sword. Issun Boshi jumped from the demon's mouth just before it turned and ran. The princess was saved! Then she made a wish. “I wish for Issun-Boshi to grow tall."The princess squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them again. But the boy was still one inch tall. Then slowly, inch by inch, Issun-Boshi grew taller until he was the size of a full grown man. Issun-Bosh and the princess were married and they lived together happily for the rest of their lives.