Tags
Mukashibanashi means ‘old story’ in Japanese. This story is taken from a series of children’s books.
いっすんぼうし – ‘Little One Inch’ – is the story of a boy who didn’t grow any taller than a finger. I don’t know if there’s any relation between this story and stories like The Borrowers. There is a Studio Ghibli film about a race of small people as well, called Arrietty.
To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the ending – it seems to be saying that Issunboushi had to become a ‘normal’ sized guy to achieve happiness.
Like other mukashibanashi, there are older, less edited versions that sound a bit more interesting. Even in this version, though, the ending is pretty suggestive.
unquiet fabrications and offerings 
Pingback: はなさかじいさん « unquiet fabrications and offerings
Pingback: こぶとりじいさん « unquiet fabrications and offerings