Issun-bōshi

Issun-bōshi from Otogizōshi

The One-Inch Boy (一寸法師 Issun-bōshi; sometimes translated into English as "Little One Inch" or "The Inch-High Samurai") is the subject of a fairy tale from Japan. This story can be found in old Japanese illustrated book, Otogizōshi, and has been various forms around the world and is similar to the tradition of Tom Thumb in English folklore.

Synopsis

The story begins with an old, childless couple who live alone. The old woman wishes for a child, despite her old age, "Please, please let us have a child, no matter how small." Eventually, a son was born to them. But small indeed was the child--no larger than a grown man's fingertip. They named the miniature child Issun-bōshi (Issun is a measure of approximately 3 centimeters. Bōshi means son). The child, despite being incredibly small, is treated well by his parents. One day, the boy realizes he will never grow, so he goes on a trip to seek his place in the world. Fancying himself a miniature samurai, Issun-bōshi is given a sewing needle for a sword, a soup bowl for a boat, and chopsticks for oars.

He sails down river to the city, where he petitions for a job with the government and goes to the home of a wealthy daimyo, whose daughter is an attractive princess. He is scorned for his height, but nevertheless given the job of accompanying the princess as her playmate. While they travel together, they are suddenly attacked by an oni, who deals with the pesky boy by swallowing him. The boy defeats the Oni by pricking him from within with his needle/sword. The Oni spits out Issun-boshi and drops the magical Uchide's Mallet as he runs away. As a reward for his bravery, the princess uses the power of the mallet to grow him to full size. Issun-bōshi and the princess remain close companions and eventually wed.

Appearances in other media

• Gougou Sentai Boukenger, a Japanese television series, has an episode ("Task 21: Uchide's Mallet") in which the hammer is a Precious.

• Issun-bōshi was the basis for one of the three OVAs based on the Mario series released in 1989.

• In the video game Ōkami, the character Issun is based on the one-inch boy. Uchide's Mallet (labeled as "Lucky Mallet") also appears in the game, although it is used to shrink the protagonist, a wolf avatar of the Shinto sun god Okami Amaterasu, to Issun's size, rather than the other way around. His form as seen through the first part of the game leads the player to believe he is some sort of insect (despite his adamant insistence otherwise), but he bears a resemblance to a one-inch boy during the portion of the game spent at Issun's size. Later it is revealed that he belongs to a race of tiny wood sprites called Poncles, who all appear as he does.

• In the video game Secret of Mana, there is a hammer called the "Midget Mallet" which grows and shrinks the user.

• In the Final Fantasy series of video games, the "Mini" status ailment can be cured using a "Mallet".

• In the video game The World Ends with You, there is a hammer called the "Lucky Mallet". [1]

• In the video game Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Luigi can use the mallet to shrink Mario, which may be referencing the One Inch Boy or may be influenced by it.

See also

• Gulliver's Travels
• Japanese literature
• Korpokkur
• Tom Thumb