Re: 1945---samurai and seppuku (Prof Murphy)

General Tojo attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the chest
while at home. US service doctors revived him. Later on, he was convicted at
the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal and hung at Sugamo Prison. Some officers did
commit suicide before the Imperial Palace to remonstrate against the Emperor for
making peace. Seppuku----hara kiri----was not just done to avoid disgrace
but to register profound disapproval. Since the Japanese believed that the seat
of the soul was in the belly, such an act was meant to show the purity of
their act. Prof John F. Murphy Jr, The Japan Foundation (Prof


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