obligatory seppuku

Seppuku, also known as hara-kiri, was a ritual suicide practiced by the samurai class in feudal Japan. It was considered an honorable way to die, demonstrating bravery, self-control, and sincerity. The act involved plunging a short sword into the abdomen and drawing it across the body.12

There were two forms of seppuku: voluntary and obligatory. Voluntary seppuku was performed to avoid capture, show loyalty, protest policies, or atone for failures. Obligatory seppuku was a form of capital punishment for samurai, abolishing the disgrace of beheading. This practice was prevalent from the 15th century until 1873. While rare today, traditional attitudes in Japan sometimes view suicide as honorable.12