How to Act as Kaishakunin During Seppuku

Seppuku—the art of Japanese ritual suicide—is not an easy task. It is elaborately planned and performed, and very often requires an assistant, or kaishakunin. This kaishakunin will actually inflict the death blow, and so his role is of the utmost importance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Katana

1. If you are asked to serve as kaishakunin out of friendship, you may refuse on the grounds that your waza (sword technique) is not up to the task. If they repeat the request, however, you should consent gracefully, knowing that your imperfect technique will be forgiven.
2. Sit down in the seiza position (legs drawn up under your body, so that you sit on your heels), or remains standing, at the left side of the samurai about to commit seppuku. You should maintain a respectful distance, but stay close enough to reach him with your katana.
3. At the appropriate moment, rise slowly, first onto your knees (if sitting), then stepping with the right foot while drawing forth the katana just as slowly and quietly. Raise your katana with the right hand, and wait for the seppuku to begin.
4. Establish and maintain eye contact. If you spot the samurai displaying pain or hesitation, strike.
5. When the samurai has finished his task, and returned his kozuka to the beginning, perform a kiritsuke (downward cut). Grab hold tightly of the tsuba (sword handle/guard), to ensure that your blade does not cut clear through the neck.The trick is to kill them without full decapitation.
6. Chiburi (shake the blood off the katana's blade), and noto (return the katana to the scabbard) while kneeling towards the deceased. Remain kneeling as a sign of respect, carefully maintaining zanshin (total awareness). You may then stand up, and bow (rei) to his body.
7. Discard the sanbo, the kozuka, and the katana. They have been defiled by death.

Tips & Warnings

• One famous kaishakunin was Hiroyasu Koga, who finally killed the Japanese novelist Yujio Mishami during his seppuku. He was actually Mishami's second kaishakunin, as the first could not complete his duties. Koga proceeded to serve as kaishakunin to both of them.
• Do not cut clean through the neck. Only lowly criminals are beheaded.