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Such small people existed
in some Aynu fairy tales; they are called "Korpokkur" ( 
). The word Korpokkur means "Ones under butterbur*
tree" (In Japanese, "Fuki*
no shita no hito").
Here is one of the Aynu fairy tales about Korpokkur translated from a Japanese page I found while surfing the Net. The story is quite interesting but since I am not so good at translation, the content may lack of smoothness and any mistakes due to my incorrect translation, I admit as my own fault. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading the story.
There was a man called Kuspet (? Original is mentioned as Kushibetsu) lived at the outskirt of a Kotan (village). His appearance was dignified, but he was a very lazy man. Not only never go hunting, moreover, he did not make even any bows and arrows. Everyday, Kuspet idled his time away in his house. On a fine weather day, he went outdoors and groveled on green grass; although an insect crept up onto his cheek, he still hesitated to clap it. Because he was a man with such characteristic, his parents and brothers gave him up and much less, there was no woman marry him so he lived idly alone.
“Ah.. What’s so boring”, were the word he murmured.
Naturally, people should want food and clothes, besides Kuspet’s clothes were prepared, so his countenance and affair was so happy. There was someone delivered certain daily meals, clothes and firewood for him. It was the operation done by a Korpokkur that none had seen him. While Kuspet was sleeping, there was a stealthy noise at the door. Grilled fish, dried meat, fruits, dumplings and seasons’ delicacies that were piled in a big basket would come closer to Kuspet stealthily.
Korpokkur who wearing concealed straw raincoat was invisible, therefore, no need to say salutation.
Kuspet unintentionally glanced inside the basket and scratch his ear tube. Even with that action, Korpokkur who totally seemed be off his guard, still pressed against the basket, like offering him, until close to the tip of troublesome Kuspet’s nose and stealthily went back. No, only the feeling that he was going to go back, Kuspet’s eyes still could not see him.
Korpokkur was a good-natured person. If there were any Aynus in trouble, he would secretly carry food, clothes or whatever to favor them. It was said that generally, his body was as small as able to stand under a butterbur's leaf and lived in a clay house.
It was only the tale, so it was not wrong
that whenever, none had seen Korpokkur. Kuspet thought tediously,
‘I also want to see him. Never seen the
face of patron who keeps on carrying food everyday is inexcusable’
He always though that, he would see thoroughly
when the basket stealthily came closer. He could see a small hand at the
basket’s hem that was painted with black ink.
Kuspet suddenly got up and caught Korpokkur’s small white hand.
Korpokkur who came out from concealed straw raincoat; as the told story, he was small and had fair-skinned like woman, around his mouth, it was painted with ink in shape like mustache* and full of nobility.
“Hello, Korpokkur. Your consistent treats,
thank you very much”
While Kuspet was expressing in Korpokkur’s
nobility, he confusingly greeted him.
“Please let me free. I don’t want to be
seen”
“Well, Well. We kindly meet each other,
let’s us talk comfortably”
Since he was caught in lazy Kuspet (who
seemed change his characteristic)’s hand, Korpokkur did not know how should
he do.
“I will grant you anything. Therefore,
please let me free”
Kuspet was happy; he asked Korpokkur to
finish delivering food, clothing and firewood, only in amounts that did
not make he getting in troubles for his whole life within next morning.
And then he let Korpokkur free.
Next day, since there was a scrap noise outside the house, Kuspet woke up with bothersome and looked outside the window; he saw clothes, food and firewood had been piling up.
Kuspet justly thought that, this amount of stuff seemed not enough to not make him get trouble for his whole life; he would complain: Ah no. Deliver them more. But he suddenly mended his temper.
Winter came.
The snow piled. The clear up morning was cold like being pierced. In the night with moderate cold, the snow still fell.
One night, Kuspet threw the last piece of firewood delivered by Korpokkur into fireside, the last food had been fulfilled his stomach. Nothing remained, while he shivered in coldness, he shouted several times loudly, “ Korpokkur, if you break the promise, I won’t forgive you!”
At the time he held up his hand over scanty fire, there was a strange noise; next moment, Kuspet’s house was crushed by snow’s weight.
Korpokkur did not break the promise at
all.
Since Kuspet’s life passed away in that
night.
My note :
[1] I used the name "Kuspet" instead of original "Kushibetsu" because I think that there is not 'be' voice in original Aynu sound system. Or maybe "Kushipet"?
[2] I do not sure about the sex of Korpokkur at all. I used the pronoun "he/him" for Korpokkur, although the original story written in Japanese, no pronoun used for Korpokkur. Anyway, it still has some conflicts : Korpokkur had fair-skinned "like woman" (so, it can be implied that he is male?) and at the same time, Korpokkur was mentioned that "around his mouth, it was painted by ink in shape like mustache"; which should be considered as a traditional custom for Aynu girls (Tattooed mustache). For more information, see appendix below.
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Meaning taken from Kodansha's
Japan
An Illustrated Encyclopaedia vol.1
(Pictures were taken from Kodansha Nihongo Daijiten) :
Butterbur. A streamside plant of the composite family, Petasites hybridus, bearing spikes of pale purple flowers and with large soft leaves formerly used for wrapping butter; also any of several related plants. |
It was a tradition for Aynu girls that they would be tattooed in shape like mustache around their mouths since they had been young. For picture of Aynu girls with tattooed mustaches, please visit National Geographic Flashback.
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, 
, 
(Fuki) Petasites japonicus. Edible perennial herb of the family
Compositae, native to mountains areas of Honshuu, Shikoku, and Kyushuu.
It is also cultivated as a vegetable. The plant spreads by means of rhizomes
(underground stems). The round or kidney-shaped, irregularly serrated leaves
(about 15-30 cm across) are connected to the rhizome by long leafstalks.
In early spring the fuki produces edible shoots called "Fuki no tou"
(picture 2). Its distinctive flavor is prized in soups and condiments.
The leafstalks are also boiled, peeled and eaten. A large variety, called
"Akitabuki", grows in the cold regions of northern Honshuu and Hokkaidou.
Its leafstalks measure up to 2 metres (7 feet) in length, and the leaves
grows to 1.5 metres (5 feet) in diameter.