1.
shuriken, throwing star, throwing blade
A small, concealable weapon designed to be thrown, historically associated with ninja. Comes in various shapes including star-shaped (多角形) and straight needle-like forms (棒手裏剣). Widely known internationally through ninja-themed media.
Usage
The standard collocation is 手裏剣を投げる (to throw a shuriken). The word literally means "blade hidden in the hand" (手 = hand, 裏 = back/hidden, 剣 = blade).
Common collocations
- 手裏剣を投げる: to throw a shuriken
- 手裏剣投げ: shuriken throwing (as an activity)
- 棒手裏剣: straight shuriken (needle type)
Cultural note
Shuriken-throwing activities are popular at ninja-themed tourist attractions in Japan, particularly in 伊賀 (Mie Prefecture) and 甲賀 (Shiga Prefecture), two regions historically associated with ninja.