forced seppuku; being made to commit ritual suicide
Historical term for being ordered or pressured to commit seppuku, often as a form of punishment or taking responsibility.
In the Edo period, retainers who caused scandals were sometimes forced to commit seppuku.
being forced to resign; taking responsibility by stepping down
Modern figurative use derived from the historical sense; refers to being pressured to resign from a position, often in politics or business, as a way of taking responsibility. Commonly used in the phrase 詰め腹を切らされる.
See also: 詰め腹を切らされる
The minister was forced to resign to take responsibility for the corruption scandal.
The president resigned, effectively being forced to take the fall for the poor business performance.
Standard kanji spelling.
Variant spelling; less common than 詰め腹.
Compound of 詰め (tsume, 'pressing' or 'cornering') and 腹 (hara, 'belly'), referring to being cornered into cutting one's belly. The figurative sense of forced resignation developed from the historical practice.