History
Seppuku — The Japanese Culturally Sanctioned Suicide
Also known as “hara-kiri” in the West
Suicide is always a serious concern in psychiatric practice. There are many considerable efforts devoted to preventing suicides in the whole world. Suicides are always related to depression, extreme harassment, exploitation, guilt, or other forms of mental illness.
Suicide is always considered to be taboo, many nations have strict laws and helpline numbers, but in western countries, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide because of terminal illness are increasing.
But do you know there is a culturally sanctioned suicide called ‘Seppuku’?
Seppuku is often called “hara-kiri” in the West. It is a ritual suicide, that originated in Japan’s ancient samurai warrior class.
This horrible act was generally performed by stabbing oneself in the stomach with a sword, slicing in the stomach, and then turning the sword upward to ensure a lethal wound.
Some performers of seppuku chose a slow death, while many took the help of others (“kaishakunin” means a second one), so kaishakunin would help by beheading their heads with katana(short sword) in order to relieve the pain of the stab that they did by themselves.
