昔々、ある村に、子供がいないおじいさんとおばあさんが住んでいました。二人は毎日のように神様にお願いしていました。「指ほどの大きさでもいいですから、どうか私たちに子供をください」。
Long ago, in a certain village, there lived an old man and an old woman who had no children. Every single day they prayed to the gods. "Even a child no bigger than a finger would do — please, grant us a child."
すると、その願いが聞こえたのでしょう、ある日、本当に小さくて可愛い男の子が生まれました。身長が一寸しかなかったので、二人はその子を「一寸法師」と名付けました。
Then, perhaps because their prayer had finally been heard, a tiny, beautiful baby boy was born to them one day. Since the boy was only one sun tall — about three centimeters — they named him Issun-boshi, "the One-Inch Boy."
一寸法師は何年たっても少しも大きくなりませんでしたが、心はとても強い男の子でした。十五歳になった時、彼はおじいさんとおばあさんに言いました。「京の都へ行って、立派な侍になるつもりです」。二人は心配しましたが、息子の気持ちを応援することにしました。
No matter how many years passed, Issun-boshi never grew any bigger, but his heart was that of a brave boy. When he turned fifteen, he announced to his parents, "I intend to travel to the capital, Kyoto, and become a fine samurai." The two of them worried, but they decided to support their son's wish.
おばあさんはお椀の船と、箸のかいを作ってくれました。おじいさんは、針の刀と麦の鞘を渡しながら「気をつけて行ってきなさい」と言いました。
The old woman made him a bowl for a boat and a chopstick for an oar. As the old man handed him a needle for a sword and a piece of straw for a scabbard, he said, "Take good care of yourself on the road."
一寸法師はお椀の船に乗って、川を下って都へ向かいました。何日もかかってやっと着いた都で、彼は一番大きな屋敷の門の前に立ちました。「働かせてもらえませんか」と頼むと、屋敷のお殿様は彼の元気な様子を見て、すぐに気に入りました。
Issun-boshi climbed into the bowl boat and floated down the river toward the capital. After many days he finally arrived, and he stood before the gate of the largest mansion in the city. "Would you please let me work here?" he asked. The lord of the house was charmed by the boy's spirited manner and took to him at once.