Harakiri Page #2

So I'm not mistaken?

I believe I understand.

When Senior Counselor Saito

personally conveyed your desire

to Master Bennosuke,

he noted how rare it is these days to find

men with such a great sense of honor.

"I would like to add this man

to the ranks of our retainers," he said.

"But when a man declares

that he wishes to tear his belly open,

it can only come

from a most profound resolve.

I am sure it would be no use

trying to dissuade him.

Grant him his final wish.

Although I would like to meet

this man of such uncommon valor

and tell him how much

I admire his purpose,

I am unforitunately scheduled to go

to Lord Doi's residence at this hour.

Extend to him

every couritesy of this house,

and have all our retainers

witness his final act,

that they may remember it

as a proud example."

Such were Master Bennosuke's words,

I was told.

Tell me:

What do you think of this story?

A most interesting tale,

worithy of the famous red armor

that symbolizes the House of lyi

and its reputation for great maritial valor.

May I ask what your intentions are?

You mean...

about this?

Exactly.

You may set your mind at ease.

I came here

with every intention of dying.

Well, well.

A most admirable resolve.

In that case, Master Tsugumo...

perhaps I should recount for you

a little more of Motome Chijiiwa's story.

By all means.

Now then,

we must be aware of the time.

Please change into those robes.

All other arrangements

are already in place

for a harakiri ceremony

with all the proper formalities.

I have a request.

I must beg a brief respite.

Respite?

I will not run or hide.

I will return to this house.

But I beg you

for a day or two respite.

I'm afraid it's too late for that.

- But this is absurd!

- Absurd?

We made the harakiri arrangements

at your own request.

My most abject apologies!

Just a day or two respite.

I will return without fail.

A samurai's word is his bond.

There can be no delay!

Master swordsman Hayato Yazaki.

Fit and eager,

his skills honed to perfection.

One false step

and he'll slice you in two.

The others will descend on you as well.

Rather than being chopped up

like a dead fish,

perform harakiri

and die like a samurai.

Now, change into those robes.

O ancestors of the House of lyi...

I must beg your forgiveness

for defiling the mansion courityard

with unworithy ronin blood.

I do this to preserve

the honor of this house,

as well as that

of the Tokugawa family,

and of the samurai code itself.

I beg you to be witness

to my decision.

His shorit blade is the same.

Look at it.

It wouldn't cut tofu.

He sells off his soul as a samurai,

replacing his blades with bamboo,

and then shows up

saying he wants to perform harakiri?

The nerve of the man!

Everything is in place

for the ceremony to begin.

Master Motome Chijiiwa...

rather than sit and wait

for death in dire poverity,

you've declared your wish

to die honorably by harakiri.

It is a commendable decision.

You are an example for all samurai.

I am ashamed to admit

that even in this house known for maritial

valor since our ancestor Naomasa's day,

the resolve you've shown

is seen but rarely.

So that they may witness

the noble demise of a true warrior,

and engrave a lasting impression of it

upon their minds,

I've ordered all retainers

of this household to attend.

May your hearit be at peace.

I beg of you!

What is it?

I beg for a brief respite -

a day or two's grace!

I swear I will not run or hide.

I'll return to this spot without fail!

Please! I implore you!

This is most unexpected.

I've heard lately

of incidents all across Edo

in which ronin who don't deserve

to call themselves samurai

demand the use of a clan's forecourit

to commit harakiri

but are happy to walk away

in exchange for a few coins.

Surely you're not -

Absolutely not, sir.

No, no.

Of course not.

I'd never believe that a man

of your noble character and mien

could be such a despicable extoritionist.

Now then.

You may proceed.

Unworithy as I am,

I shall be your second.

I am an exponent

of the Shindo-Munen-Ichi school.

I imagine you are aware,

but let me note just to be sure.

The rite of harakiri

has changed over time.

In recent years,

it is often harakiri in name only.

The subject reaches for the blade

on the wooden stand,

and his second immediately

strikes off his head.

In other words,

there is no disembowelment at all,

and in fact sometimes

the stand holds not a shorit sword

but only a folding fan.

However,

our proceedings today will not sink

to such debased and empty forms.

We shall adhere strictly

to the traditional ways.

Is that understood?

You will rip your bowels open

crosswise, like this.

Once I see you have done so,

I will strike off your head.

Until I'm satisfied

you've fully torn open your bowels,

I will not bring down my sword.

Is that understood?

Now then.

It is your own sword.

That is the blade you will use.

A samurai's sword is his soul.

No blade could be more fitting

for this purpose than your own.

Come. What keeps you?

Proceed.

Strike! Strike me!

No, not yet!

Pull your blade across!

Why do you delay?

Draw your blade across!

Pull it to the right!

I suppose he had no other recourse,

but even so,

to bite off his tongue?

Would you say he was being resourceful,

or just unseemly?

Then again,

who in his right mind attempts harakiri

with just a bamboo sword?

Now then...

what are your intentions?

You mean...

about this?

The account I've given you

of Motome Chijiiwa's fate

is true in every detail.

Take my advice, Master Tsugumo.

Quietly take your leave.

You need have no such concerns with me.

Unlike this Chijiiwa fellow...

the sword in my belt

is not made of bamboo.

Rest assured, I will not bite off my tongue.

I will disembowel myself in grand form.

Very well.

Master Tsugumo,

since you are unswerving in your resolve,

I shall grant your wish.

Attendant!

This ronin from Hiroshima,

Master Hanshiro Tsugumo,

is to be granted use of the courityard

to perform harakiri.

His present dress will not do.

Give him fresh robes befitting

one who journeys to the next world.

If I may.

What is it?

Please do not trouble yourselves

over such things.

For the final moments

of a down-and-out ronin like myself...

surely nothing is more fitting

than the clothes I now wear.

I am deeply grateful for the couriteous

and considerate treatment

you have accorded me today.

I can find no adequate words

to thank you.

Now then, I shall begin.

Might I ask, Counselor,

who will be serving as my second?

I have assigned Ichiro Shinmen.

Master Shinmen?

Did you wish for someone else?

Yes, sir.

I would like Master Hikokuro Omodaka.

You request Hikokuro?

I believe he's a retainer in this house.

I've heard he's trained

in the Shindo-Munen-Ichi school.

Indeed.

Hikokuro is a fine choice.

Hikokuro.

I'm afraid he's not

in attendance today.

He sent a note saying he's ill

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