Hira
shuriken, or shaken, Click image
image2 for larger view
These were my first ever shuriken, given to me in 1982 by an old friend "Scriv" who was a keen weapons enthusiast. He made them himself in metal shop at college, to, according to him, authentic dimensions. They are just 3mm coated plate steel with the 4 pointed star pattern scribed from a template then cut out. The circular holes were then drilled with a 13mm bit, then the triangular heads ground and polished to an edge. The silver one feels really nice and I use it more often than the others, so it is more worn.
These were my first ever shuriken, given to me in 1982 by an old friend "Scriv" who was a keen weapons enthusiast. He made them himself in metal shop at college, to, according to him, authentic dimensions. They are just 3mm coated plate steel with the 4 pointed star pattern scribed from a template then cut out. The circular holes were then drilled with a 13mm bit, then the triangular heads ground and polished to an edge. The silver one feels really nice and I use it more often than the others, so it is more worn.
Bo
shuriken of the Negishi Ryu Click image
for larger view
These were given to me by Mic Marelli Sensei, one of my Aikido teachers of many years, and a shuriken practitioner himself. These were professionally made on a lathe in a metal shop, to the exact size and dimensions of a set of Negishi Ryu shuriken given to him by the late headmaster of our style of Aikido, Morihiro Saito Sensei. Saito Sensei was an expert in the Negishi Ryu, who continued training until late in life, and by all accounts was a formidable exponent of the art.
These were given to me by Mic Marelli Sensei, one of my Aikido teachers of many years, and a shuriken practitioner himself. These were professionally made on a lathe in a metal shop, to the exact size and dimensions of a set of Negishi Ryu shuriken given to him by the late headmaster of our style of Aikido, Morihiro Saito Sensei. Saito Sensei was an expert in the Negishi Ryu, who continued training until late in life, and by all accounts was a formidable exponent of the art.
The
Negishi Ryu shuriken shown above, but with handles wrapped in twine, as
is normally done, to provide friction against the fingers as the blade is released
from the hand. This has the action of retarding the blade's natural tendency to
turn in flight, thus allowing the direct hit method of throwing to fly over gresater
distances without turning. Another method of providing a friction surface was
to soak paper in lacquer and wrap the shank of the blade with several thickness
of material.
It is mistakenly believed that these two methods are employed to adjust the balance of the blade for throwing either short or long distances, but this is not the case, as it was the manufacture of the blade itself that decided whether it would be for throwing shorter or longer distances. Click here for a larger view
I rewrapped them in jute twine, a rougher and courser material which creates good friction in the fingers for the throw. Click here
It is mistakenly believed that these two methods are employed to adjust the balance of the blade for throwing either short or long distances, but this is not the case, as it was the manufacture of the blade itself that decided whether it would be for throwing shorter or longer distances. Click here for a larger view
I rewrapped them in jute twine, a rougher and courser material which creates good friction in the fingers for the throw. Click here
Bo
shuriken of the Shirai Ryu Click image
for larger view
These I made myself a few years ago, modelled on a Bo shuriken given to me in 1990 by Ryo-kun, a Japanese working-holidayer who was working with me at my teachers company. It's 6mm rod steel cut to 16cm lengths, tip ground and end rounded by stone. I tried heat treating the tip, but it didn't get any harder - I think I needed a much higher temperature than what I was producing. Currently researching good heat-hardening methods.
These I made myself a few years ago, modelled on a Bo shuriken given to me in 1990 by Ryo-kun, a Japanese working-holidayer who was working with me at my teachers company. It's 6mm rod steel cut to 16cm lengths, tip ground and end rounded by stone. I tried heat treating the tip, but it didn't get any harder - I think I needed a much higher temperature than what I was producing. Currently researching good heat-hardening methods.
Bo
shuriken of the Ikku Ryu Click image
for larger view
This is a protoype of the double tipped Bo shuriken devised by Shirakami Eizo, the author of the shuriken book mentioned at length on this site. It's 20cm in length, ground down from an 8 inch railway sleeper nail, given to me years ago by my friend Scriv. Where he got the nails, I don't know, but the metal is very hard and heavy, and difficult to work with. I have 6 of these nails in various stages of completion. This one is the most complete, but I still feel it needs work, its too heavy and bulky, but it goes through just about everything I throw at...
This is a protoype of the double tipped Bo shuriken devised by Shirakami Eizo, the author of the shuriken book mentioned at length on this site. It's 20cm in length, ground down from an 8 inch railway sleeper nail, given to me years ago by my friend Scriv. Where he got the nails, I don't know, but the metal is very hard and heavy, and difficult to work with. I have 6 of these nails in various stages of completion. This one is the most complete, but I still feel it needs work, its too heavy and bulky, but it goes through just about everything I throw at...
Authentic
Japanese Bo shuriken of the Chishin Ryu View
large
Yet to be officially appraised as true historic pieces, this and the following 2 shuriken appear to be authentic, handmade blades made from the heavy, black tamahagane, or Japanese traditionally smelted metal. They were generously given to me by Robert Gruzanski, whose late father, Charles, had as a student, obtained these from his teachers, Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei and Yumio Nawa Sensei, both famous collectors and proponents of the shuriken arts. All 3 blades exhibit very interesting and unusual surface markings, suggesting their authentic origin. I offer my own detailed description of these 3 blades in a personal review here
Yet to be officially appraised as true historic pieces, this and the following 2 shuriken appear to be authentic, handmade blades made from the heavy, black tamahagane, or Japanese traditionally smelted metal. They were generously given to me by Robert Gruzanski, whose late father, Charles, had as a student, obtained these from his teachers, Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei and Yumio Nawa Sensei, both famous collectors and proponents of the shuriken arts. All 3 blades exhibit very interesting and unusual surface markings, suggesting their authentic origin. I offer my own detailed description of these 3 blades in a personal review here
Authentic
Japanese Bo shuriken of the Ikku Ryu View
large
As I mentioned elsewhere, Ikku Ryu is a 20th Century name coined by Mr Shirakami for his style of shuriken art, however, there are examples of double pointed blades that appear to predate Mr Shirakami, so this needs some research. This blade is 18.5cm long and 8mm thick.
As I mentioned elsewhere, Ikku Ryu is a 20th Century name coined by Mr Shirakami for his style of shuriken art, however, there are examples of double pointed blades that appear to predate Mr Shirakami, so this needs some research. This blade is 18.5cm long and 8mm thick.
Authentic
Japanese Bo shuriken of Shirai Ryu View
large
This blade has a square cross section, unlike the circular section characteristic of this school, however square ones were common, it is just dependent upon the material origin, round were from needles, square from nails.This example is 21 cms long, which is at the upper end of the range that Shirai Ryu blades are found in
This blade has a square cross section, unlike the circular section characteristic of this school, however square ones were common, it is just dependent upon the material origin, round were from needles, square from nails.This example is 21 cms long, which is at the upper end of the range that Shirai Ryu blades are found in
A generous gift from the current headmaster of Meifu Shinkage Ryu, Yasuyuki Otsuka Sensei, this set of 5 bo shuriken is the standard package that new students acquire when commencing training. Note the Meifu Shinkage stamp on the paper packaging. These are 15.1cm long, 6mm thick, with a very sharp, 26mm tip. It appears that the tip end has been heat hardened before filing to a point, note the darkened area below the tip. The Japanese must know their heat hardening, because these blades have still retained their tip, even when thrown into timber targets.
Also a gift of Otsuka Sensei, this appears to be a relatively modern handmade blade, using industrially produced metal stock. The butt is gently rounded and squared off, the lengthwise edges have a very slight 45 deg. bevel to remove the sharpness, and there is a slight increase in the angle of the taper in the last 7mm of the tip. Overall length 16.2cm, thickness at its widest point: 7mm. This blade has a very nice, comfortable feel about it, and throws very well.
