A shuriken (Japanese 手裏剣; literally: "sword hidden in the hand") is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing.
Shuriken is the name given to any small-bladed object, while shaken is traditionally used to indicate the well-known "throwing star".
Shuriken are commonly, and mistakenly, known in the West as "throwing stars" or "ninja
stars" though they took many different shapes and designs during the
time they were used. The major varieties of shuriken are the bō shuriken (棒手裏剣, stick shuriken) and the hira shuriken (平手裏剣, flat shuriken) or shaken (車剣, also read as kurumaken, wheel shuriken).
Shuriken were mainly a supplemental weapon to the more-commonly-used sword or other various weapons in a samurai warrior's arsenal, though they often played a pivotal tactical role in battle.[1]
Contrary to popular belief, shuriken were not primarily intended as a
killing weapon, but rather as a secondary weapon that sometimes played a
role supportive to a main weapon, usually the sword or spear.[3]
Shuriken were primarily used to cause either nuisance or distraction.
Targets were primarily the eyes, face, hands, or feet—the areas most
exposed under armor. The shuriken would sometimes be thrown in a way
that cuts the opponent and becomes lost, later causing the opponent to
believe that they were cut by an invisible swordsman.[1]
The term makibishi (撒き菱 or 撒菱) refers to the Japanese version of the caltrop.
Makibishi (igadama), sharp spiked objects that were used
in feudal Japan to slow down pursuers and also were used in the defense
of samurai fortifications.[1][2]Makibashi were one of the items supposedly used by ninja. Iron makibishi were called tetsubishi while the makibishi made from the dried seed pod of the water chestnut formed a natural type of makibashi called tennenbishi. Both types of makibishi could penetrate the thin soles of the shoes such as the waraji sandals that were commonly worn in feudal Japan when the makibashi was dropped on the ground or planted in advance.[3]
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