seppuku

noun

sep·​pu·​ku se-ˈpü-(ˌ)kü 

ˈse-pə-ˌkü

: hara-kiri sense 1

Mishima went back into the building, knelt on the floor and disemboweled himself with a samurai dagger in the ancient rite of seppuku.

—Tracy Dahlby

Seppuku remains a favorite theme in dramas and movies but has virtually disappeared from real life.

—Edwin O. Reischauer

Examples of seppuku in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

True to history, its Japanese characters commit seppuku with little flinching or exoticization by the camera’s eye. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2024

Mariko vows to commit seppuku, the ritual of suicide. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2024

After his impassioned speech’s inevitable failure, Mishima carried out his plan to commit seppuku at the garrison. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 9 Aug. 2024

What was the atmosphere on set like for your seppuku scene? —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2024

One of the most challenging moments came in Episode 9, where Anna Sawai’s Mariko prepares to commit seppuku. —Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024

Is the show's depiction of seppuku historically accurate? —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024

Well, the details are totally different — like, no one’s committing seppuku with swords nowadays — but the politics of it are very much relevant. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024

Beyond the characters, there’s the show’s consideration of seppuku. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above