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Harakiri (more formally known as seppuku) is a traditional Japanese form of ritual suicide by abdominal disembowelment, historically practiced by the samurai class. • Meaning and Terms: The word hara-kiri literally translates to "belly-cutting" (hara for stomach, kiri for cutting). While widely used in Western languages, Japanese people rarely use the term harakiri in daily speech and instead prefer seppuku, which uses the same Chinese-Japanese characters reversed and carries a more formal, ritualistic connotation. • History and Purpose: Emerging around the 12th century under the samurai code of honor (Bushidō), seppuku was performed to restore lost honor, avoid capture by enemies, atone for failures or crimes, or demonstrate deep loyalty upon the death of a master (oibara). It was also used as a formal method of capital punishment for samurai until it was officially abolished in 1873. • The Ritual: The process involved plunging a short sword (such as a tantō) into the left side of the abdomen, slicing across to the right, and turning it upward. Because it was a slow and painful death, a trusted assistant or second—called a kaishakunin (usually a friend or relative)—often stood ready with a katana to quickly decapitate the practitioner after the initial wound was made. • Cultural Context Today: Historical details and cultural analyses can be explored via Britannica's Seppuku Overview or the HISTORY Seppuku Article. The practice is obsolete today and distinct from modern medical or psychological cases of self-harm.