A form of ritual suicide by knife that was practiced by samurai in feudal Japan as a way to restore honor or accept defeat.
From Japanese 'seppuku' (腹切り), literally 'belly-cutting' from 'setsu' (cut) and 'puku' (belly). This practice became ritualized in samurai culture and is also known by the term 'hara-kiri'.
Seppuku reveals how different cultures developed completely different ideas about honor and shame—what was once considered the most honorable death in Japan would be unthinkable in Western tradition. It's a powerful reminder that morality isn't universal.
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