ritual suicide by cutting the abdomen: it is called seppuku by the Japanese, and was practiced by high-ranking Japanese of the military class in lieu of execution or to avoid disgrace
See hara-kiri in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(hărˈĭ-kîrˈē, häˈrē-) also ha·ri-ka·ri(härˈē-kärˈē, hărˈē-kărˈē)