The One-Inch Boy, sometimes translated as "The Inch-High Samurai", originates from a Japanese folktale. Born from to an elderly couple, they gave him his name after seeing how small he was. After realizing he would never grow, yet he would go on a journey and become a samurai, Issun-bōshi is given a sewing needle for a sword, a soup bowl for a boat, and chopsticks for oars for his journey.