kaishakunins
Kaishakunins are a specialized role that emerged in ancient Japan, primarily within the context of samurai warfare and judicial proceedings. The term can be translated to "executor" or "one who carries out the sentence." Their primary duty was to perform ritualistic suicide, known as seppuku or hara-kiri, on a samurai who had been ordered to commit suicide or who chose to do so themselves.
The kaishakunin's role was not merely to witness the act but to bring it to a swift
Beyond their role in seppuku, kaishakunins could also be present during executions. In these instances, they