Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-27
Misfellaneous.
HARI.KIRI.

n "litST III the new 1 OTk IOst utSCEiDcs
this Japenese ceremonial execution, which
he witnessed. The victim in this case was
Taxi Zenzaburo whose fault will be found
confessed below
Taxi assembled the low platform with slow
step and a determined mien. Here he pros
trated himself several times in succession be-
fore the altar, his face each time touching the
ground, and subsequently sat down upon the
carpet with his back turned towards the altar,
and with his friend, the kaishaku, seated on
his right side. One of the three Japanese OH
GERS now made his appearance, carrying n
small table or dumb waiter, similar to those
used in the temple upon the occasion of sac
rifces, upon which lay, carefully wrapped up
in paper, Japanes Sc dagger, about nine and
half inches in length, with point fine as
needle and as edge as keen as a razor.
Kneeling down before the platform, he
handed the dagger to the condemned, who
reverently took ,it, and after having lifted
it with both hands above his head, placed it
on the crimson carpet in front of him. Then
Taxi made deep obeisance, and in voice
without q tremor, and without faltering, gave
utterance TO the following words in Japenese:
''It was I, and l alone, that gave the order
to fire upon the foreigners at Kobe, without
having received from any one the authority to
do so. | also fired upon them afterwards,
when they tried to escape. Acknowledging
my great sin and misconduct. l shall now pro-
ceed to cut open my bowels; and beg the
gentlemen present to do me the honor to bear
witness to the execution of the deed.'
Having said this, he stopped down, and
loosening his clothing, let it fall down SO that
it exposed his body down to the loins. He
took care to tie the sleeves of his tunic to-
gether below and behind the knees, to prevent
his falling backwards, as a Japanese noble
man must always fall upon his face, accord
! ing to the creed of the nobility. Then taking
up the dagger and removing the paper cover
ing, he glanced for moment upon the gilt
tering blade with an expression in his
face as if he were for the last time on earth
collecting his thoughts and bidding, in his
mind, all that he loved, farewell. Then
glancing up again and looking proudly round
upon the spectators. he firmly grasped the
hlt and, burying the steel in the pit of the
stomach, near the left side, drew it across the
stomach towards the right, making fearful
cash. But not content herewith, he turned
the knife in the wound and made an incisien
upwards about two inches in length.
While this horrible deed took place, his
mouth was firmly set and not sound was
heard, while his eyes seemed to stare at the
ceiling. For moment, but moment only,
an expression of unutterable pain and agony
came over his face, and, shutting the eyes, he
staggered and tumbled forward. At the same
moment the ''Kaishaku,' who had been
watching for this opportunity, sprung to his
feet; a sword glittered in his hands, a sharp
cutting sound came through the air, then an
ugly dull blow and heavy fall and the head
of Taxi Zenazburo was severed from its mu-
1 tilated trunk ..
The deep and profound stiffness of death
ensured, intercepted only by the sound of the
blood as it trickled from the headless body
upon the ground below. Every face was pale
with fear and horror; il was moment never
to be forgotten, and which hope may never
again have occasion to see repeated.
The ''Kaishaku," after making deep obei-
sance, wiped off his sword and descended from
the platform, after which the dagger, covered
with blood and gore, was lifted from the floor
where it had fallen, and carried away with a
great deal of ceremony, to be presented as
bloody witness of the just and faithful execu-
ton of the orders of the Mikado and demands
of the law.
| The two mandarians who had represented
the Mikado now left their places, and, ap-
preaching us, asked us if we were fully salts
fed that the sentence of death upon Taxi
Zenzaburo had been faithfully executed; and
after having given our testimony, the cere-
mony was over and we left the temple.
( The whole horrible transaction, from be-
| ginning TO end, bore witness of the marvellous
cold-bloodedness and the intense feeling of
caste and honor that form such distinguish
ed trait in the character of a Japanese noble
man. In this instance, at least, no substitute
was used; the culprit executed was Taxi
Zenzaburo himself, whom and several others
knew perfectly we'll by sight. While Mortified
at the crime he had committed and at its fear
tul punishment, we could not but admire the
candor with which he admitted his sin, which
was exclusively his own, and the stolidity and
unfinching frmness with which he perpetra-
ted the horrible penalty upon himself.
/ No less wonderful to behold was the energy
and dexterity with which the Kashaku fulfilled
his part of the duty. No fact could better
prove what an eminent teacher he had had in
Taxi Every Samurai, or gentleman, of, the
military clan or service, is taught from ear
liest childhood to consider hari-kiri as some :
thing at which he may perhaps at some time
or other be compelled to ''assist," either in
the capacity as Kaishaku, or as the individual
upon whose body the operation is to be per-
formed. The boys of the noble families are
taught that the performance of hari- kiri, when
properly done, according to all the rules upor
this subject handed down from generation t.
generation, will atone for every crime anC
obliterate any spot from stained escutcheon
This, perhaps, accounts for the frequenc,
with which this ''pastime" is sometimes in
dulged in by prominent members of the Japan
ese aristocracy.
We afterwards learned that Taxi Zenzabur
had, a short time previous TO his execution
called together all the members of his ow
clan, and other of his friends and subord
mates, many of whom had been among thos
who had executed his fatal command to fir
upon the foreigners. and had to them made
, short speech, in which he condemned an
deeply regretted his own conduct, and ear
/; nestly advised and implored all there presen
to show in future friendly disposition t.
| wards all foreigners. His last words and tn
example set by his execution seem to hay
had the desired effect; for since this catastrc
phe we have had no further troubles with th
natives here AT Hiogo,
r.