The Inch High Samurai

Kodansha Bilingual Children's Classics

by Ralph F. McCarthy, Ralph F. McCarthy

The brave little boy who sailed to the Capital in a teacup and fought a demon with a needle to win the love of a Lady is a Japanese cousin to Tom Thumb.

Genres: Japan, History, Picture Books, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

RALPH F. McCARTHY is a writer, lyricist, and translator from Michigan and California. Among his translations are another collection of stories by Osamu Dazai, Self Portraits, and 69 by Ryu Murakami.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the Kodansha Bilingual Children's Classics series, which presents traditional Japanese folktales in both English and Japanese - other titles in the set include The Moon Princess , Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea , The Adventure of Momotaro, the Peach Boy , and Kintaro, the Nature Boy - this story of a tiny, inch-high boy, born to a couple who have long desired a child, who sets out for the capital city to seek his fortune, becoming a mighty samurai and winning the hand of a beautiful princess, despite his small stature, is here retold in rhyming verse by Ralph F. McCarthy, together with the illustrations of Shiro Kasamatsu.

The result is a delightful little picture-book that children will enjoy reading, while poring over the detailed, colorful artwork. I think that, of all the illustrators involved in this series - Kancho Oda, Ioe Saito, Shiro Kasamatsu, and Suiho Yonai - I have enjoyed the work of Kasamatsu, who worked on both The Inch-High Samurai and Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea , best. His palette is lovely, and his figures expressive, within the confines of this particular style. All in all, a sweet little retelling of a wonderful tale from Japan, one I would recommend to any young reader with an interest in folklore or fairy-tales.

[Shay Vande · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kodansha Children's classics of Japanese folklore have really gorgeous, traditionally-styled art that make them stand out from other versions of these tales. I liked the rhyme-scheme this version of Issun-boshi brought, although I wish they'd left the traditional Japanese names "Issun-boshi" instead of "Inchy boy" and "Oni" instead of just saying the creature was a monster. I understand it's translating the tale for English children, and fitting the rhythm of the poetic style, but children learn different cultures better by including the actual names and terminology as they are. That's my preference, anyway.

I've read a few different versions of Issun-boshi, and overall, this one has been my favorite so far. I'd recommend the Kodansha series to anyone interested in reading some classic Japanese folklore.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and well illustrated story time book read.

[Emiko Miyasato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spend about 100 minutes for extensive reading and I am writing a report of this books.
This story is very famous in Japan but I read it for the first time.

7 word summary
wish, born, small, dream, prince, it, marry

Discussion question
If you find a magic mallet, what do you dream?
I want to travel around the world. I want to know the situation of many countries.

[Silvis Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kodansha Children's classics of Japanese folklore have really gorgeous, traditionally-styled art that make them stand out from other versions of these tales. I liked the rhyme-scheme this version of Issun-boshi brought, although I wish they'd left the traditional Japanese names "Issun-boshi" instead of "Inchy boy" and "Oni" instead of just saying the creature was a monster. I understand it's translating the tale for English children, and fitting the rhythm of the poetic style, but children learn different cultures better by including the actual names and terminology as they are. That's my preference, anyway.

I've read a few different versions of Issun-boshi, and overall, this one has been my favorite so far. I'd recommend the Kodansha series to anyone interested in reading some classic Japanese folklore.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are gorgeous, but the text is a little lacking. I couldn't stand the particular rhythm/meter/rhyme scheme used to tell the story.

[Ice 9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://letterstocassiandotherfolks.bl...

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Japanese Tom Thumb with nothing to distinguish it but a great title.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great storytime of the Japanese folktale, many contrast to Tom Thumb.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought these for the child of a friend but just couldn't help myself and very carefully read them all. They are bilingual (Japanese / Hiragana and English). The English translation is spot on the art that goes with the story is brilliant.

If you're learning Japanese and want to read stories to your child in either Japanese or English or if you want to introduce your child to folk tales from other countries, these books are great.

[Maeve I. · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute little motivation story :)