The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-06-27

INx/I japanese commits suicide by
LII 'hara-kiri?" What's in his
mind? What's his idea?
1t may look absurdly futile to US,
but not SO to the people of Japan.
1T is not a mere suicidal process"
says Inazo Nitobe, noted Imperial
University professor, but an institu-
ton, a ceremonial. An invention Of
the middle ages, it was a process by
which warriors could apologize for
their errors, redeem their friends or
prove their sincerity"
Count Nogi, famous Japanese gen
eral, committed "hara-kiri" in 1912
when Emperor Mutsuhito died just
to prove his devotion to his En-
peror.
Follows Her Husband
Thereupon Countess Nogi commit
ted, not "hara-kiri'-for women do
not practice this form of self-destruc-
tion-but "jigai." This is suicide
by piercing the throat with a dagger.
She did it to prove her devotion to
her husband.
In 1921, at the time Of the dis
pute over whom and when Crown
Prince Hirohito should wed, more
than subject of the Mikado per
formed "hari-kiri" before the palace
walls in protest against the imperial
family row then going on. 1t IA a
sincere" way Of saying, Quit fuss
ing! Get married."
Just how is 1t done. this ''hara-
kiri," or, as the better class Of
japanese call it, "seppuku''?
Act Described
Milford, in his Tales of Old
Japan" gives a vivid description of
an execution by the "hara-kiri"
method. In 1868 the foreigners of
Kobe were fired upon by the
military and by way Of making
amends. the Mikado personally in
vited Taxi Zenzaburo, who gave the
order to fire. to remove himself.
This the officer did, in a Buddhist
temple at 1870 o'clock one night in
the presence of American, British
and five other foreign legation at
taches, in addition 10 the Japanese
officials.
In front of the high altar says
Milford, where the floor, covered
with beautiful white mats.ri is raised
some three or four inches from the
ground. was laid a rug Of scarlet
felt. Tall candles placed ar regular
intervals gave out a dim mysterious
light.
The seven japanese took their
places on the left of the raised floor,
the ever foreigners TO the right"
Stabs Self
A moment later. in fun rega1ia, the
doomed man slowly entered. his
'second"-not his executioner-at
his side. Midway between the two
lines Of witnesses, he kueeled. sitting
bolt upright on his heels. With
great solemnity and much bowling. q
pointed short sword. nine and a half
inches long. was presented to him
a salver. by his second" This
Taxi rev~erently raised to his fore
head in salute.
Letting fall from his shoulders his
ceremonial kimono or uniform. his
body was revealed nude 20 the waist. /
Deliberately then. without a sign
Of either pain or emotion on his face. .
he buried the sword in the left side
Of his stomach. dragged its razor
edge horizontally across to the right
side. then. turning the knife In the
wound, thrust IL upward. Leaning
forward a bit now-a Japanese gem
tleman, thus dying, must never fan
backward-just as he was supposed
to do. his second" took up a great
sword and with a mighty swing. sew
cred head from body, putting him
out Of his pain.
Japanese literature glorifes "hara-
kirt. Nitobe himself tells of three
young brothers. the youngest aged r.
who thus died together to expiate a
disgrace.