Seppuku

By Andrew Rankin,

Book cover of Seppuku: A History of Samurai Suicide

Book description

A collection of thrilling samurai tales tracing the history of seppuku from ancient times to the twentieth century. The history of seppuku -- Japanese ritual suicide by cutting the stomach, sometimes referred to as hara-kiri -- spans a millennium, and came to be favoured by samurai as an honourable formā€¦

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Seppuku as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Who does not know about Seppuku, or Hara-kiri (also incorrectly said as Hari-Kari)? Andrew in his book gives a great in-depth discussion about its history, its customs, and its position in Japanese society. I have no idea why this book is not a best seller. I know I have used it in my own books more than once. People think they know about ritual suicide in Japanese culture, but more often than not it is ā€œmovie knowledgeā€ and Andrewā€™s book is a solid piece of research on the subject, it should be in every samurai fanā€™s book collection. 

From Antony's list on hidden Japan and the real samurai.

If you love Seppuku...

Ad

Book cover of Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

Tap Dancing on Everest by Mimi Zieman,

Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctorā€”and only womanā€”on a remote Everest climb in Tibet.

The team attempts a new route upā€¦

Want books like Seppuku?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 88 books like Seppuku.

Browse books like Seppuku

Book cover of The Book of Corrections: Reflections on the National Crisis During the Japanese Invasion of Korea, 1592-1598
Book cover of Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai
Book cover of They Came to Japan: An Anthology of European Reports on Japan, 1543-1640

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,904

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

šŸ“š If you like Seppuku, you might also like...

Book cover of Eclipse Chasers

Eclipse Chasers by Nick Lomb,

Forthcoming eclipses coming up in Australia include that of 22 July 2028, which will cross Australia from the Northern Territory to Sydney, home of the internationally famous sights of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Eclipse Chasers will act as a guidebook for both locals and international visitors, givingā€¦

Book cover of Norvel: An American Hero

Norvel by Kenneth F. Conklin,

NORVEL: An American Hero chronicles the remarkable life of Norvel Lee, a civil rights pioneer and Olympic athlete who challenged segregation in 1948 Virginia. Born in the Blue Ridge Mountains to working-class parents who valued education, Lee overcame Jim Crow laws and a speech impediment to achieve extraordinary success.

Heā€¦

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in suicide, Japan, and Samurais?

Suicide 202 books
Japan 517 books
Samurais 42 books