Long, long ago, an old man and an old woman who had no children prayed to the gods, saying, "Please grant us a child."
And so a little boy no bigger than a finger was born to them, and they named him Issun-boshi.
No matter how many years passed, Issun-boshi never grew any bigger, yet he grew up healthy and clever.
One day, Issun-boshi announced that he wanted to go to the capital and become a fine warrior.
He rode in a rice bowl for a boat, used a chopstick for an oar, thrust a needle at his waist for a sword, and set off up the river.
When he reached the capital, Issun-boshi was taken on at a great mansion, where he served the beautiful young princess of the house.
One day, as the princess was on her way to worship at a temple, a terrible ogre appeared and tried to carry her off.
Issun-boshi stood against him with his needle sword, but the ogre swallowed him whole.
Even so he did not give up, and jabbed away inside the ogre's belly with his needle until the ogre, howling with pain, spat him out and fled into the mountains.
When the princess waved the magic mallet the ogre had dropped, Issun-boshi grew before their eyes into a splendid young man.
The two were married, and lived happily together forever after.
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