Modern Categories of A Ninja Star:

 

A ninja star is a throwing weapon that is designed to harm or kill an opponent. A ninja may be one who uses the throwing stars as weapons, more specifically in a manner similar to the "lightning bolt" throw. The history and design of the weapon are both shrouded in mystery and folklore.

Throwing stars have been found in ancient Japanese art dating back several hundred years. The first written reference to their use was made by an observer of a battle recorded by the 12th-century chronicler Minamoto no Yoshitsune, describing how ninja attacked samurai: "An armed man clad in black clothes suddenly leaped into one's midst". 


The ninja was carrying a "long, thin sword in one hand and a large, round shield in the other". It is believed that the ninja introduced Japan to small, portable weapons that could be concealed easily. They were also used as their main equipment for assassinations.


The throwing star is shaped like a pentagram or five-point star and consists of two metal plates held firmly together by riveting or by a pin inserted from the side. The space between the plates can be filled with various materials such as sand, dirt, lead shot, or even razors and other kinds of metal objects to add weight to the star.

Categories of a Ninja Star

The ninja star is a weapon that has been used by various Asian martial artists and espionage agents for centuries. Its history stretches back to the Muromachi period when warriors developed weaponized throwing stars as they struggled with the disarmament policy of the Shogunate.


Today, a variety of types exist in use, from small hand-held tools (punching or throwing weapons) to heavy, weighted blades that are affixed with small spikes or sharp points on one edge and streamers. There are three types of modern throwing stars: butterfly shuriken, straight daggers, and double-edge razor blades.

  • Butterfly Shuriken

The seventeenth-century version of a modern ninja star is known as the butterfly shuriken (or hira shuriken), which is shaped like a regular pentagon with a handle attached to one side. This design made it easy to conceal in clothing and is the most common type of ninja star today.

  • Straight Dagger

The straight dagger is heavier than its counterpart; this presents the wearer with an advantage over a shorter opponent who might have difficulty catching the weapon if thrown at them. In addition, the appearance of a straight-throwing star on a coat or shirt sleeve can make it seem like an everyday object rather than an actual weapon.

  • Double Dagger

Double-edged razor blades are another type of throwing star. They are usually much thicker than the other types and have a rounder, wider design. They were originally created to be used in a ritual suicide called hara-kiri, where the shuriken was held against the neck and legs of the person cutting his or her own skin to provide a blood sacrifice before death. The dead body would then be dismembered and disposed of before burial.


Although modern-day throwing stars are typically designed for use as weapons, they can also be used as decorative accessories. Some martial artists add spikes to their throwing stars (known as spike rings) to act as improvised weapons.

Why Do Ninjas Use Shuriken?

Throwing stars are extremely flexible, light, and easily concealed weapons that can be used in a variety of ways. Their versatility makes them ideal for the Japanese warrior's fluid and highly-adaptable style of fighting. They come from Japan's ancient battlefields where their popularity originated, which explains why you might have seen more than one on your travels to Japan.


According to various sources, ninjas were not warriors; they were spies and assassins. The Japanese warrior's role was to attack with a sword and spear as well as defeat an enemy's army in battle. Ninjas had no place in such a warrior culture, so they started using these weapons.


The significance of the ninja way of life is difficult to quantify because it is not a direct and tangible object but rather a state of mind or "way". The art and principles of the ninja were contained in scrolls along with other cultural objects that were passed down through generations.

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