One-inch boy

The one-inch boy (一寸法師 issun-bōshi) is the subject of a fairy tale from Japan. The story has been told in various forms around the world.

It is about a one-inch-tall boy, born in a small house in which an old woman and man live. One day, the boy realizes he will never grow taller than one inch, so he goes on a trip to the city. There, he meets an attractive princess. While they travel together, they are suddenly attacked by a demon. The boy defeats the demon using his needle, and as a reward, the princess makes him grow to full human size using a special hammer called Uchide no Koduchi.

See also

• Japanese literature