starfish; sea star
General term for any echinoderm of the class Asteroidea. In everyday Japanese, ヒトデ is the standard word.
I found a starfish on the beach.
Starfish are known for their high regenerative ability.
northern Pacific seastar
Specifically Asterias amurensis, a common species in northern Japan. Often used in biological or fishing contexts.
In Hokkaido, the northern Pacific seastar sometimes causes damage to fisheries.
I picked up a starfish on the beach.
In everyday speech, small sea creatures are often counted with 匹; some speakers may also use a more specialized counter depending on context.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling meaning 'sea star'; rarely used in modern Japanese.
Hiragana spelling is also common and matches the reading.
Ateji spelling; can be confused with 人手 read ひとで meaning 'human hand' or 'help'.
Obscure kanji spelling; not recommended for learners.
The spelling 人手 reflects the animal’s resemblance to a human hand with radiating fingers, while 海星 reflects its star-shaped marine appearance. The deeper origin of the name ひとで is uncertain.