What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I recently vaguely remembered a book I was read as a kid and I really want to find it again.
The basic premise was there is some number of princes or warriors or something, maybe ten maybe twelve, and they were all trying to achieve something or get somewhere. Each of them approaches the task with some special ability - one bends the swords of his rivals, one grows super tall so he can walk across an ocean (those are the two I remember). If I remember correctly, only one of them achieves the goal, and he was the one nobody expected to make it.
The book is beautifully illustrated and I think it was a translation from Japanese to English.
This must have been around the year 2000 or so.
Please let me know!! :D

Was it a picture book or a child's novel?

Picture book

Reminds me a bit of The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop and The Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy.

Can you describe the illustrations - e.g., simple/detailed, realistic/cartoony/cute, painted watercolors/bold graphics, bright/dark/muted colors/black & white? Do they remind you of a similar illustrator or picture book author?

I added "picture [book]" to the topic header/title.

That's it! The Seven Chinese Brothers!

Thank you :)

so funny how a vague memory of it came back to me so many years later while watching an episode of Avatar the last Airbender.

Well, it pays to guess. Glad we could help, Alex.