Seppuku

Seppuku, also known as harakiri, is a traditional Japanese ritual involving a form of honorable suicide practiced by samurai. It was historically performed to restore or protect one’s honor after shame, failure, or disgrace. The act involves a person cutting their abdomen with a sword, often followed by a quick decapitation by an assistant called a kaishakunin to minimize suffering. Though it is no longer practiced, seppuku symbolized discipline, loyalty, and the importance of personal dignity in samurai culture.