This tale is about a little boy, so small that his parents gave him the name Isshimboshi. They named him that because in Japanese the name Ishimboshi means: Thumb Boy.
And it’s true that Isshimboshi was no bigger than his little finger. But he never lowered his eyes to anyone, he was brave, cheerful and smart. When Isshimboshi was sixteen years old, he came to his parents and said:
— I want to see how people live in Japan. Let me go to Kyoto.
Mother got scared:
-Where will you go from your home? You will die in a foreign city! Anyone can offend you!
“I won’t let myself be offended, don’t be afraid!” says Isshimboshi.
“Well, if you are so brave, then go,” the father agreed.
Isshimboshi began to get ready for the journey. He made a sword from a needle, a scabbard from a straw, a boat from a nutshell, and an oar from a chopstick.
Isshimboshi said goodbye to his parents, got into his walnut boat and sailed up the river. He had to work a lot with the oar before he landed on the shore near Kyoto.
And finally, Isshimboshi found himself in the capital. He importantly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and began to walk through the bustling streets of Kyoto. What huge and beautiful houses there were! And how many people are on the streets!
And so, walking through the streets, he suddenly found himself in front of someone’s magnificent palace.
- Oh, what a palace! - exclaimed Isshimboshi. - I want to live in it!
But you need to know that Issimboshi’s word never differed from his deeds. That is why, without hesitation for long, he walked through the gate, climbed the steps and found himself in the rooms of the palace. This palace belonged to the first minister of the imperial court, Prince Sanjo.
None of the guards even noticed how Issimboshi entered the chambers of the first minister. The minister sat importantly on the kamiza (Kamiza is a place of honor in the princely palace):
- Hello, my lord! - Isshimboshi said loudly.
-Who is this greeting me? — Sanjo was surprised. “I don’t see anyone!”
Isshimboshi came very close to the kamiza and said louder than before:
- I'm here, my lord. I stand at your feet! The minister looked down and saw a tiny man.
“Who are you, where are you from?” Sanjo was surprised.
- My name is Isshimboshi. I came to Kyoto to see who lives here and how. Let me stay with you and serve you!
-Are you really good for anything? All my servants will laugh at you!
- Just let them dare! - Isshimboshi exclaimed angrily and grabbed his needle-sword from the straw sheath.
- Ara! (Ara - exclamation expressing surprise) How desperate you are! - said the minister. - Well, I need brave people. Stay and serve me.
So Ishimboshi settled in the palace of the emperor’s first minister, Prince Sanjo.
A little time passed, and everyone fell in love with the new servant. Isshimboshi was friendly, cheerful, and helpful. He carried out the minister's orders quickly and well.
The prince’s daughter, fifteen-year-old Ogin, became especially attached to Issimboshi. Issimboshi played the biwa for her (Biwa is an ancient musical instrument), sang village songs to her and accompanied Ogin on walks.
One day, while walking, Isshimboshi and Ogin themselves did not notice how they found themselves outside the city walls. Not far away there was a dark forest in which there were terrible devils.
And as soon as Issimboshi and Ogin approached the forest, a huge devil jumped out. Instead of a sword, the devil had a small mallet tucked into his belt.
Seeing the devil, Ogin ran away in fear to Kyoto. But Isshimboshi did not budge. He drew his sword and shouted menacingly:
- Stop! Not moving! The devil was surprised:
- Who is screaming?
And Isshimboshi again:
- Stop, or I’ll pierce you with a sword!
Only now did the devil Ishimboshi notice. I noticed, and let’s laugh. Isshimboshi waved his needle very funny. The devil stopped laughing and shouted:
- Oh, you insignificant snail! I'll swallow you alive! And, grabbing Isshimboshi, the devil swallowed him.
As soon as Isshimboshi hit the devil in the stomach, he began to stab the monster with his needle.
The devil screamed in a terrible voice; his eyes went to his forehead in pain.
And Issimboshi, without ceasing, keeps stabbing and stabbing the devil with a needle.
Even the devil’s legs gave way from pain. He fell to the ground, howled, began to roll around - nothing helps: Isshimboshi stabs him tirelessly.
Finally the devil figured out how to escape death. He took a deep breath and then, with all his might, exhaled it. He and Isshimboshi exhaled along with the air.
The devil was glad that no one was stabbing him anymore, and rushed into the forest. Only the beater remained in the place where he had rolled.
Isshimboshi picked up the mallet and rushed to catch up with Ogin. And Ogin stood at the city wall and cried. She was sure that the huge devil had killed tiny Isshimboshi.
- Here I am! - Isshimboshi said cheerfully and waved the devil’s mallet as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you, thank you!” exclaimed Ogin. “If you hadn’t stopped the devil, he would have dragged me into the forest!” Let's go home quickly, I'll tell my father about your bravery...
And they went home.
Isshimboshi walked next to Ogin and brandished a mallet. And it so happened that he touched Ogin’s fan with the mallet. And immediately this fan became twice as large. Isshimboshi was surprised and touched his sword with a mallet. And his sword also immediately became twice as long.
- Damn you lost your magic mallet! - shouted Isshimboshi. - Look what will happen now!
He noticed a worm under a tree, touched it with a mallet - and the worm became no less than a snake.
- Give me this mallet quickly! - Ogin exclaimed joyfully. “I know what to do!”
Ogin grabbed the mallet and touched Isshimboshi's head with it five times in a row. And with every touch of the beater, Isshimboshi became bigger and bigger. Finally, when Ogin touched him for the sixth time, Isshimboshi turned into a tall, handsome young man.
When Isshimboshi and Ogin entered Sanjo's chambers, the minister asked:
- Who is this young man, why is he in my house? Then Ogin told how Isshimboshi saved her from the devil, how the devil lost his magic mallet out of fear, and how Little Thumb turned into a tall, handsome young man.
Issimboshi took a step forward, bowed to the minister and said:
- I love Ogin, and Ogin loves me...
And Sanjo’s daughter also took a step forward and also said:
“Won’t you allow your daughter to marry the one who saved her life?”
Needless to say, the minister did as Ogin asked.
Isshimboshi became Ogin's husband. Soon Isshimboshi's parents arrived in Kyoto. And everyone in the house of Ogin and Issimboshi lived cheerfully, amicably, as good people should live.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru