Story Number 56

Phileas was invited to stay with a kind old couple who shared their food and Sake with Phileas, in return Phileas had to share stories with them, stories from his travels and also fairy tales which Phileas knew. Phileas told them all about the people he had met, the places he had seen and all the stories he had been told. After Phileas had exhausted all the stories from his travels, he started to ask the old couple questions, such as have they travelled outside of Japan, in which they replied no they have always lived here and they had never wished to leave. Phileas also asked if they had any children, in which they replied yes, they have a son called Issun Boshi. "Would you like to hear the story of my son Phileas? The story of Issun Boshi is a well known tale told around the whole of Japan. I guess you could say my son is famous," said the old man, "I would be delighted to hear the story of Issun Boshi, Please do tell." Said Phileas, who has already started to make himself comfortable.

Issun Boshi

An old couple were very happy, except for one thing – they wanted a child. So they prayed at an altar, asking for a child, no matter how small he was. Their prayers were answered when they had a tiny baby, called Issun-bōshi. Despite his size (no bigger than a fingertip), the couple loved him greatly and he turned into a nice, well-respected young man, although he never grew any larger.

One day, Issun-bōshi told his parents he wanted to make his own way in the world. They were understandably worried about him, but knowing he was a nice boy, they trusted him, so let him go. They gave him a needle as a sword, a rice bowl as a boat, and a chopstick as an oar.

Issun-bōshi made his way to the city via his bowl in the river and after a few days, he reached the lord’s mansion. He told the guard at the gate that he had come to the city to work and he would like to become a servant. When the guard eventually noticed the tiny young man, he took him to the lord. In the palm of the lord’s hand, Issun-bōshi bowed and pledged his loyalty. Impressed with his bravery and manners, the lord employed him and soon he was a very popular member of staff at the mansion. He was especially popular with the lord’s daughter, and eventually became her personal assistant.

One day, the lord’s daughter took Issun-bōshi to the temple with her, but on the way they met two ogres. Jumping to the daughters defence, Issun-bōshi unleashed his needle sword, but alas, one of the monsters simply swallowed him whole. Issun-bōshi fiercely started to jab his miniature sword into the inside of the ogre’s stomach, making him throw the tiny lad up. Once he was free, Issun-bōshi started to jab the two ogres in the eyes, making them run off screaming. However, they left their magical hammer behind. Picking it up, the lord’s daughter said, “If you use this hammer, it will grant you a wish. What would you like? Money? Rice?” Issun-bōshi replied, “Neither. I would like to be a full-sized man.” So the daughter made the wish and waved the hammer. Before her eyes, the tiny young man grew into a full-sized handsome gentleman. Both the daughter and Issun-bōshi were delighted and they soon married, living happily ever after!

The meaning behind the story?

Bring up your children well, and with love, and they can overcome anything. And striking out on your own encourages personal growth and development.