Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-05-04
/" Hara.Kiri."
A JAPANESE CEREMONIAL EXECUTION DE-
sCRIBED BY AN EYE WITNESS.

The ceremony" according to the or
ders OF the Mikado, took place at 10 80 p. |
m. in the temple of Seigukiyi, where the |
troops from Satsuma had their neadquar-
tiers while stationed in the vicinity of Hi |
ogo. Each of the foreign legations had |
deputed one of their members to witness |
the execution, and we were, all told, seven |
foreigners.
We were conducted to the temple by |
officers in the service of the Princes of |
Satsuma and Koshiu. Upon our arrival |
here we were Immediately shown into a
room, next to which was another room
for the accommodation of several Japanese
of high rank, who were also to be wit
nesses of the ceremony.
We had to wait long time, and were
then politely requested to accompany the
Japanese witnesses into the Hondo," as
the large hall in the centre of the temple
is called, in which the ceremony was to
take place. 1t was truly imposing scene
that met us here. We found ourselves in
a very large hall, the high ceiling of
which rested upon a number of dark
wooden pillars; large gilt lamps and Ian
terms of grotesque forms were suspended
from the ceiling, intermingled with which
were the curious fantastic ornaments that
form peculiar feature of the temple of
Buddha; the whole floor was covered with
fine white japanese mats, and directly in
front of the altar was a platform, only
three or four inches high, and covered
with a carpet made of felt of a dark GRIM
son color. Tall wax candles were placed
around the walls at certain distances from
each other, and threw over the whole
scene a vague and mysterious light, Just
enough to enable those present to observe
everything that took place. In the back
ground were the long dark passages lead
ing to other parts of the temple, and, dur
ing the uninterrupted silence, the seven
Japanese quietly occupied the places des-
tined for them on the left side of the plat
form, while we foreigners were seated op-
posite on the right side. No one else was
present.
After a delay of some minutes, passed
amid profound silence, Taxi Zenzaburo
entered dressed in the garb worn on fes-
| tive occasions and adorned with those
curious wing shaped ornaments that are
worn by the japanese only at very great or
holy ceremonies. He seemed to be q man
of about thirty-two, tall and of vigorous
build, with a noble countenance, and was
accompanied by the "Kaishsku" and
three officers clad in their "zinbaOri," or
gala uniforms, almost covered with gold
| embroideries "Kaishaku means execu-
toner; but this term in Japan implies
something very different from here, for
there it always bears reference to gen.
tleman of high standing; very frequently,
indeed, one of the most intimate friends
or nearest relatives of the condemned
and to act as executioner to a friend is
considered high honor, and at the same
time deed of love and friendship, which
only one of the nearest and dearest friends
is asked, by the condemned himself, to
perform upon him, as last mark of love
and esteem. Second, therefore, might
perhaps be better translation, and come
nearer the real meaning of the word
chosen. In this instance the Kaishaku''
was one of the pupils of Taxi Zenzaburo,
selected by him on account of the love he
bore toward him and his great skill in the
use of the sword.
Accompanied by the "Kaishaku on
his left side, Taxi Zenzaburo slowly ap
preached the Japanese officers, before
which both he and the executioner haltet
and made a deep obeisance, after which
they turned around and saluted us in {
similar manner, probably even with po
liteness yet more marked and distinguished
These compliments being returned with
an etiquette and decision equal to the &C
casion.
Taxi ascended the low platform with 6
slow step and a determined mein. Here
he prostrated himself several times in sue
cession before the altar, his face each time
touching the ground, and subsequently sal
down upon the carpet with his back turned
toward the altar, and with his friend, tn,
Kaishaku, seated on his right side. Ont
of the three japanese officers now mad,
his appearance, carrying a small table o
dumb waiter, similar to those used in tn
temples upon the occasion of sacrifices
upon which lay, carefully wrapped up il
paper, japanese dagger, about nine ant
half inches in length, with point fine a
a needle and an edge as keen as a rasor.
Kneeling down before the platform, h
handed the dagger to the condemned, VIII,
reverentially took it, and after havinl
j lifted it with both hands above his head
placed it on the crimson carpet in front o
} him. Then Taxi made deep obeisance
and in a voice without a tremor, and with
out faltering, gave utterance to the follow
ing words in Japanese: =" 1t was /, and
; alone, that gave orders to fire upon tn
foreigners at Kobe, without having re
ceived from any one the authority to do SC
I also fired upon them afterward, whel
they tried to escape. Acknowledging m.
great sin and my misconduct, / shall nov
, proceed to cut open my bowels, and be,
} the gentlemen present to do me the homo
: to bear witness 10 the execution of tn
deed"
r Having said this, he stopped down, ant
loosening his clothing, let il fall down 81
= that it exposed his body down to the loins
; He took care to tie the sleeves of his tuni
together below and behind the knees, Z,
{ prevent his falling backwards, as a Japan
/ ese nobleman must always fall upon nj
, face, according to the creed of the nobility
Then taking up the dagger and removing
5 the paper covering, he glanced for a mo
: ment upon the glittering blade with an ex
preston in his face as if he were for tn
' last time on earth collecting his thought
e and bidding, in his mind. all that he love
: farewell. Then glancing up again an
: looking proudly round upon the specta
tors, he firmly grasped the hilt, and, bury
{ ing the steel in the pit of the stomach
s near the left side, drew it across the stom
4 ach toward the right, making a fearfu
: cash. But not content herewith, he turn
= ed the knife in the wound and made a
? incision upward about two inches i
: length.
: While this horrible deed took place, hi
r mouth was firmly set and not sound wa
!, heard, while his eyes seemed to stare
: the ceiling. For a moment, but momer
!, only, an expression of unutterable pai
}, and agony came over his face, and, shu
: ting the eyes he staggered and tumble
Q forward. At the same moment the /" Ka
s shaku," who had been watching for thi
J, opportunity, sprung TO his feet; swor
e glittered in his hands, a sharp, cuttin
sound came through the air, then an ugl
B dull blow and heavy fall and the hsa
# of Taxi Zenzaburo was severed from II
e mutilated trunk.
q The deep and profound stiffness {
t death ensued, interrupted only by tn
r sound of blood, as it trickled from tn
Q headless body upon the ground below
+; Every face was pale with fear and horror
: it was q moment never to be forgotten, an
d which hope may never again have ot
II casion to see repeated.
/ The Kaishaku," after making dee
e obeisance, wiped off his sword and d.
d scended from the platform, after which tn
q degger, covered with blood and gore, Wa
?, lifted from the floor, where 1t had fallel
7 and carried away with great deal OF ee