Seppuku - Japanese ritual suicide, reserved for Samurai who voluntarily commit “ honor suicide” who would rather commit suicide rather than be captured by their enemies. Also Seppuku was performed when a Samurai committed any serious offences or shamed themselves. The ritual is carried out usually by a short blade called a tanto, the blade is driven in through the abdomen and then sliced left to right. Samurais were allowed to perform this ritual rather than be executed, it was considered honorable. Traditionaly a death poem is written during the time of a japanese persons death. Female ritual suicide was performed by the wives of Samurai who brought dishonor to the Samurai or when defeat in a battle was imminent to avoid rape when captured,
