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Niigata cops: Man had ninja gear ‘for protection’

Niigata police seized 170 knives and other weapons associated with ninja from a man in Joetsu City
Niigata police seized 170 knives and other weapons associated with ninja from a man in Joetsu City

NIIGATA (TR) – Niigata Prefectural Police have arrested a 58-year-old man in Joetsu City after discovering a stash of weapons associated with the ancient ninja in his possession, reports TBS News (Oct. 18).

At around 11:45 a.m. on October 7, police found Akira Shirasuna, a company employee, to have around 170 handmade star-shaped discs (shuriken) and lances inside the trunk and atop a seat and dashboard of his vehicle. He was subsequently charged with possession of two survival knives with 24-centimeter blades under the Swords and Firearms Control Law.

Shirasuna was “I have them for protection,” the suspect is quoted by the Joetsu Police Station. He added that he has been worried about problems with his family.

According to the Asahi Shimbun (Oct. 19), the suspect purchased knives via mail order and military surplus stores. He fabricated the shuriken with lawnmower blades. “Since I was a kid I’ve wanted to be a ninja,” he said. “That’s the reason I started to collect them.”

Police began questioning Shirasuna after finding his car parked along a vacant plot of land along a road.