Once upon a time,
There lived an old man and his wife.
Although they were happy together, the old couple wished for a child.
Dear God, please bring us a child. Any child will do, We will love and cherish it.
Each day the old man and the old woman prayed for a child.
Then one day their wish came true. A baby was born to the old couple.
It was a tiny, little boy as big as a thumb.
Oh, what a cute, little, little baby boy.
Indeed, God has blessed us, my husband . He's lovely.
So they named their cute little son Inch Boy.
Soon he grew, and could play around outside.
He was ahealthy child.
But because he was so small,
Inch Boy couldn't play with the other children in the village.
He sure eats a lot. Why doesn't the grow any bigger?
Well he seems healthy enough. You just let him be.
I wonder if he will be happy with his life?
Then one day...
Mother, Father, I have a request.
Why, Inch Boy. What on earth could it be?
Please let me go to the city.
I want to see the whole world learn important things and become a really great man.
The city is so far away.
Who knows how long it'll take you to get there, as you're so small,
Don't worry, don't worry!!
I just have to go down river to get to the city. A little bird told me.
That may be well my boy but you know...
Alright. You may do as you wish.
When you become great, come back and see us.
Yes, sir!
The day to set off arrived.
Inch Boy put a sewing needle in a scabbard for his sword.
and with a bowl for a boat and chopsticks for oars, he set off for the city.
Oh please be careful.
I will.
I'll be back.
Take care of yourself... Dear Inch Boy....be careful!
Inch Boy happily set off down the river.
Some days it rained.
Some days the wild wind blew.
Some days he faced danger.
But Inch Boy kept going down the river.
Until one day he saw a large bridge up ahead.
He had finally arrived at the city.
So many people. This is nothing like my home village.
Inch Boy slipped past the many feet,
Taking care not to be trampled as he walked along the busy street.
First I must find someone important.
As he was walking along...
He came to a huge palace.
It was the mansion of a high-ranking government Minister.
Hello. Please open the door!
Hm? That's strange. There's no one here.
Here I am. Down here.
My name is Inch Boy. Please take me to the master of the house.
Inch Boy, huh? What an unusual boy you are. Come this way please.
The servant was very surprised, and he took Inch Boy to meet the Minister.
The Minister had also never seen such a tiny person before.
He stared at Inch Boy.
I may be small but I assure you I can work just as hard as any one else.
Please. please let me study here.
Hmm. You are small indeed, but you seem to have big ambitions.
The Minister took a liking to Inch Boy and gave him a place in the palace.
Inch Boy worked with all his might.
He learned how to read and erite.
He studied sword fighting.
The minister's daughter was a princess.
She adored Inch Boy and always kept him by his side and taught him poetry.
Many years passed by.
Although Inch Boy never grew and larger,
he became one of the Minister's most trusted servants.
Then one fine spring day,
the princess decided to visit the Kanon Temple at Kiyomizu.
Inch Boy accompanied ber.
After they had paid their respects and were walking back down the long stone steps.
Suddenly the sky turned black.
An evil wind. Began to blow.
What's with the wind?
The princess looked up and saw two terrible demons
swinging iron clubs perched on the roof of the temple.
Demons! The Damons have come!
We're here for the lovely princess, Hand her over.
Who's gonna' make us?
G...go a...away, y...you d...demons! Go away!
What a bunch of cowards!
What a bunch of cowards.
Stop!
I won't let you lay a finger in the princess!
Did you say something?
What's a little pipsqueak like you gonna' do to stop us?
...that tiny little girl thought she could fight us. What a joke.
Inch Boy was stabbing the demon from the inside with his needle.
Ouch! Stop it.
That hurts!
The demon couldn't stand the pain,
pretty soon he threw Inch Boy up.
Out! Ow!
Then are you going to leave the princess alone?!
Ok, okay.
Take that! And you?
We'll never bother fer again.
Good. Then I'll let you go.
Now get out of here and never come back!
Yes, sir.
Thank You, Inch Boy.
You're safe now, princess. They'll never come back.
Look, the demons forgot something.
Oh I My goodness, it's a special magical mallet.
One swing of that mallet and your wish will be granted.
Inch Boy, now, what do you wish for?
Well, if my wish will come true, I wish to be big.
Inch Boy grow, Inch Boy grow...
Grow! Grow Now!
Oh, wow...
Before her very eyes.
Inch Boy grew into a strapping, handsome young man.
Now that he was big, he worked even harder than ever before.
He became a great man who was respected by all those around him.
The Minister was delighted,
and asked him to take the princess' hand in marriage.
Soon after, he and the princess went to the village
where he was born to see the old man and his wife.
He invited them to come to the city, and they all lived happily ever after.