Harakiri

This is a classic movie from Japan in 1962, heavily surrounding the theme of Harakiri (or Seppuku).

For those who don’t know, Harakiri is a form of suicide that was reserved for the Samurai as a way to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies in war.

This movie however touches on Harakiri during a time of peace, during 1630. A man named Tsugumo Hanshiro arrives at the doorstep of the Li Clan. He proposes that he wishes to commit Sepuku at their estate, and they allow him to use their grounds.

Before moving on one of the clan’s men Saito, asks him if he knows a Chijiwa Motome who apparently came from the same clan. Saito tells the tale of how a year earlier Motome approached their clan, looking for a place to commit Harakiri.

They argue that many in the area have been showing up looking for a such a place to commit Harakiri, but instead have been turned away and given money – inevitably triggering a trend among greedy Ronin. Declaring he intends to commit Harakiri, Motome pleads for 2 days to himself before the ritual.

Refusing his request, the Li Clan force him to commit Harakiri and discover that his very own swords are made of Bamboo. Sick of the greedy Ronin trying to steal money, they force Motome to continue on with his blunt Bamboo sword – which lead to a unbearably painful and difficult death.

Hanshiro declares that he doesn’t know the man and heads out to the yard and puts up a little bit more difficulty in a similar way to Motome, and the situation gets interesting as he tells his story to the clan.

A Look at Samurai Honor in a Very Intriguing Way.

Warning: spoilers

Hanshiro tells his story which actualy connects him to Motome as his adopted son, which he later married to his own daughter. During a tough time with both his daughter and baby grandson very ill and close to death, Motome desperately approached the Clan (in hopes of getting some much needed money) only to have Harakiri forced upon him in a most disgusting manner. Hanshiro is there to make a statement about the sick approach this clan had.

He questions Samurai Honor and calls it a ‘facade’ something that really pisses off the Li Clan Counselor who claims ‘it’s much more than a facade to those here’. With his dieing daughter and grandson, Hanshiro demonstrates how he could have sold his sword like Motome to help pay for medical expense and save his family.

Hanshiro tells us how he removed the top knots off the 3 men involved in Motome’s forced Harakiri. Having top knots removed is seen as disgrace and to some worse than death in Samurai culture. This is a big statement on the ‘facade’ of Samurai code of honor – is a sword worth more than a family member? Does a tiny amount of hair being chopped off make someone less of a warrior?

It seems that in peace time the so called ‘code of honor’ isn’t just useless but somewhat cruel in certain instances, and the movie Harakiri really state’s this message along with others in a deep and insightful story that get’s you thinking a lot.

They don’t make movies like this anymore.

The Action & Martial Arts

This movie is more about Samurai culture and honor and in my opinion is not a heavy ‘martial arts’ movie in the sense of physical performance, at least not until the end.

A fight breaks out between Hanshiro and the Li Clan. This serves as the majority of the action in the film, with a few quick confrontations being part of Hanshiro’s story. The fighting is very 1962 – a long way to go technically, but entertaining nonetheless.

Ultimately, a movie with a story of character and Samurai culture, and less about action.

The Verdict?

A top movie that is one of the best I’ve seen, but not really an action film. If you’re looking for an intriguing movie you can’t go past this classic.