Historically, by the late
Heian era,
seppuku
was considered to be a bushi's preferred way to independently pay for their crime.
By the mid-
Edo era, it had became nothing more than a name and formality, where the actual killing is done by a person from behind who beheads the criminal.
The concept of commiting suicide as a noble act gave many Americans a
culture shock during and after
World War II. During the war, many Japanese citizens believed that it is more honorable for their country to commit suicide rather than be taken in as a
POW by the Americans.
Seppuku is no longer practiced in Japan.
Synonyms:
jijin, hara-kiri, kappuku, tofuku.
parts translated from dictionary.goo.ne.jp