Ninja Day sneaking up on Japanese cities

KOKA, Japan, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A pair of Japanese cities are gearing up for one of the most anticipated holidays of the year -- Ninja Day.

The Feb. 22 holiday, celebrated with events in the cities of Iga and Koka feature events celebrating both the real-life historical ninjas and the deadly assassins of popular culture.

The holiday isn't an official holiday, so workers don't have the day off, but workers at Koka's Tourism Promotion Office have been gearing up for the holiday by wearing their finest ninja attire to work. Town hall visitors have also been receiving their own handmade paper shuriken, or throwing stars.

The office said workers in ninja attire will visit trains on Ninja Day itself and hand out the paper stars.

Feb. 22 was chosen for the silent-but-deadly holiday because the Japanese word for "two" is "ni," as in "ninja." "Nin" is also a Japanese word referring to endurance, patience or restraint.