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
Tracy DahlbySeppuku remains a favorite theme in dramas and movies but has virtually disappeared from real life.—Edwin O. Reischauer
Edwin O. ReischauerExamples of seppuku in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That's on top of dozens of weapon arts, including bloodhound step, seppuku, rancor slash, and Hoarah Loux's earthshaker, which are applied to corresponding weapons by default and triggered by holding LT while double-handing them.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Yukio Mishima was a great writer, but the manner of his death, by seppuku, slitting his stomach with a samurai sword, may now be better known to most people than his novels or plays—a pity, because many of his novels are very much worth reading.
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025
What was the atmosphere on set like for your seppuku scene?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2025
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
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
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Yukio Mishima was a great writer, but the manner of his death, by seppuku, slitting his stomach with a samurai sword, may now be better known to most people than his novels or plays—a pity, because many of his novels are very much worth reading.
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025
What was the atmosphere on set like for your seppuku scene?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2025
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Seppuku.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seppuku. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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