Seppuku (切腹, lit. 'cutting [the] belly'), also called harakiri (腹切り, lit. 'abdomen/belly cutting', a native Japanese kun reading), is a form of Japanese ritualistic suicide by disembowelment.

Mar 20, 2025 · Seppuku, the honorable method of taking one’s own life practiced by men of the samurai (military) class in feudal Japan. The word hara-kiri (literally, ‘belly-cutting’), though widely known to foreigners, is rarely used by Japanese, who prefer the term seppuku.

Harakiri and seppuku mean exactly the same thing in Japanese, but, Japanese people almost never use the word harakiri and prefer the word seppuku instead. Harakiri refers to the action of cutting stomach while seppuku represents the ritual and the traditional procedure of …

Jan 11, 2016 · Often called “hara-kiri” in the West, “seppuku” is a form of ritual suicide that originated with Japan’s ancient samurai warrior class. The grisly act typically involved stabbing oneself in the...

Seppuku is a Japanese ritual suicide where a samurai kills himself by cutting into his belly. After one had done so, a second person would cut off his head. It was thought that seppuku was an honorable way to die. Sometimes, it is called hara-kiri, which is …

May 23, 2023 · Seppuku is famous as a form of suicide by which samurai took responsibility and showed their sincerity. However, the reality did not generally match up to the legend, as...

Mar 24, 2025 · Seppuku is a form of taking one’s own life that was considered honourable among the feudal Japanese samurai class. Traditionally, the act consisted of stabbing oneself in the abdomen with a short sword to ensure a slow and agonizing death.

Seppuku, or hara-kiri, was a ritual suicide practiced by samurai to uphold honor and loyalty. Explore its origins, significance, and lasting impact on Japanese culture.

Seppuku begins to appear in fictionalized accounts of battles beginning in the 12th century. In its earliest form, seppuku typically occurred when a warrior was surrounded by his enemy and had no hope of winning the battle.

Jan 13, 2025 · Seppuku, also known as hara-kiri, is one of the most striking and symbolic practices in Japanese history. Far from being just a grim ritual, it was seen as an honorable way to confront shame or defeat—a final act of courage and control.