Seppuku

Seppuku is a way that samurai warriors kill themselves and was a key part of the code of the samurai warriors. It was used by the warriors to avoid falling into enemy hands and to cause shame. Samurai could also be ordered by their damiyo (feudal lords) to commit seppuku. Later, disgraced warriors were sometimes allowed to commit seppuku rather than be executed in the normal manner. Since the main part of the act was to restore or protect ones honor as a warrior, those who did not belong to the samurai caste were never ordered or expected to commit seppuku. Samurai women could only commit the act with permission. A Samurai was bathed, dressed in white robes, fed his favorite meal, and when he was finished, his instrument was placed on his plate. With his sword placed in front of him the warrior would prepare for death by writing a death poem. Then basically he would plunge the sword into his abdomen to kill himself and die with honor.