Once upon a time, there was a very, very small baby. He was only as big as a thumb. His parents named him Issun-boshi anb took good care of him. When Issun-boshi became older, he was still small in size, but his heart was great.
One day, Issun-boshi said to his parents, I would like to go to the city and find a good job. The parents were surprised, but because it was important to their son, they agreed. His mother gave him a wooden soup bowl for a boat and a chopstick for a paddle. His father gave him a needle for a sword.
They wished him good luck and watched him start going down the river in his boat.
A few days later, Issun-boshi reached the city. He found the biggest house in the city. He stood in front of the main gate and shouted, Hello! in a strong voice. A worker from the house came out, but he couldn’t find anybody. I’m here. said Issun-boshi. The worker looked down and was surprised to see an inch-high boy.
Issun-boshi said he wanted to work there. The worker at the house said, What can you do? You are smaller than a mouse.
The master came by and thought Issun-boshi was funny. so he agreed to let him work there.
You can work for my daughter.
A month later, the daughter of the house went to pray at a temple. Issun-boshi went with her.
While the daughter was praying, two giant demons came down from the mountain behind the temple. They tried to take the daughter away. Issun-boshi jumped onto the nose of one of the demons and attacked its eyes with his needle sword.
Oh. Ouch.
The demon put its hands over its eyes and run away. Then, the other demon picked up Issun-boshi and ate him. Issun-boshi was inside the demon. He attacked the inside of the demon’s stomach with his sword.
Oh. Ouch.
Good. The demon opened its mouth.
Issun-boshi jumped out of it's mouth and held the sword in front of the demon’s eye.
If you don't go back, I’m going to use this sword on your eye.
The demon run back up the mountain as fast as it could.
The demon left so quickly that it forgot something. It was a magic hammer. The daughter picked up the hammer and made a wish with it.
Grow bigger, Issun-boshi. Grow taller, Issun-boshi.
At the time, Issun-boshi was only about an inch tall, but then he grew taller and taller…Issun-boshi magically became a tall, strong young man.
Later, Issun-boshi married the daughter and invited his parents to the city. They all lived happily ever after.