Seppuku, or hara-kiri, was more than just an act of taking one's life; it was a deeply entrenched practice steeped in the samurai code of honor, known as Bushido. This ritual was performed in a highly formalized manner. The samurai, dressed in a white kimono symbolizing purity, would kneel down and disembowel himself with a short blade, traditionally in the presence of spectators. This was followed by a swift decapitation by an assistant, known as the kaishakunin, to end the samurai's agony and