Seppuku is a form of ritual SUICIDE practiced by the samurai in feudal Japan. It was seen as an honorable way to die and was often used to avoid capture or to restore honor. The term seppuku is derived from two Japanese words, 'seppu' meaning 'to cut' and 'kuku' meaning 'BELLY'. The act of seppuku involves disemboweling oneself with a sword or dagger. It is sometimes referred to as hara-kiri, which literally translates to 'BELLY-cutting'.