- Date: 1963
- Composer: Toru Takemitsu
- Period: Modern (1910-1949)
Review
For director Masaki Kobayashi's black and white film "Harakiri" (1963, original title "Seppuku"), Takemitsu created a mythic Japanese score built around the sound of a biwa heavily struck in a pulsing rhythm while the pitches slide to other tones. This traditional style is usually used in the depictions of battles and other dramatic events.The story is set in 17th century Japan. Samurai wander the countryside having been put out of work once political power was centralized. In order to get work, the samurai approach landowners and ask their permission to commit hara-kiri, hoping instead that the landowner will show some compassion at their state and offer to employ them. One of the older samurai named Nakadai encounters an estate's chief retainer, Mikuni, who tells him that a young samurai named Ishihama had arrived earlier making the same request. Following the ancient samurai code, Ishihama committed hara-kiri with a bamboo sword having sold his metal sword to get provisions for his family.
Nakadai then requests three of the landowner's swordsmen to become his seconds as he also undertakes the ritual. But when the time arrives, not one of them shows up. Nakadai then declares that he is Ishihama's father-in-law, and in revenge for his death, he cuts the swordmen's hair knots, which is a humiliation and a dishonor. The retainer Mikuni orders the swordsmen to kill Nakadai. He fights skillfully and kills many of them, but eventually Nakadai falls. Mikuni then orders his own swordsmen to commit hara-kiri. The whole incident is kept secret and disappears in the dust of history. ~ "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide
Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work
| Title | Date |
| Film Music of Takemitsu | 1997 |
