Jack Seward (1924–2010)

(from dust jacket) To the Average Westerner, the word hara-kiri conjures up an image of excruciating, self-inflected pain; of a deep, fatal incision. To the Japanese, this kind of suicide embodies the best qualities of courage, honor, and discipline. Through extensive research, author Jack Seward brings to the English-speaking public a dissertation on the subject that is thoroughly enlightening. Fluent in speaking, reading, and writing Japanese, he was able to glean information from ancient documents-many of them scrolls in the Japanese archives-that few foreigners have seen. The earliest writings on hara-kiri (known more formallly as seppuku) are thus revealed, as are the intricate rituals surrounding the ceremony. 'The major purpose of this book,' says the author, 'is to clarify the historical and sociological significance of a unique method of self-destruction.' In fulfilling this purpose, author Seward has come up with a definitive work that is sure to arouse interest both as a scholarly effort and as simple, fascinating reading. Author Jack Seward hs spent most of the years since 1945 in Japan, both as an intelligence officer in military and government service and as a civilian managing the Far East branches of American business firms. Currently, he is engaged in a full-time writing program to record his experiences and observations. His first book, The Cave of the Chinese Skeletons (Tuttle, 1964), was successfully received novel of 'international espionage, Oriental intrique, hidden treasure, and sex in Tokyo, the world's wildest city.' In addition to this current work on hara-kiri, author Seward has just completed a book delineating a new approach to the study of the Japanese language, which he first started to learn in Army schools during World War II and which he now speaks, reads, and writes fluently. Born and reared mostly in Texas, Seward first studied at the University of Oklahoma. Later he received his bachelor's degree in Oriental Studies from the University of Michigan and did graduate work at the University of Hawaii and at a European school. At present, he is living and writing in his family home in Celeste, Texas. Contents Introductions Chapter I Seppuku Define--Definition; First Eyewitness Account by a Westerner; Changes in Methods of Execution; Breaches of Tradition Chapter II Origins and Types--Beginnings of Sacrifice; Early Documents on Seppuku; Seppuku in the Feudal Penal Code; Why the Abdomen Was Chosen; Kinds of Seppuku Chapter III Sites Used in the Seppuku Ceremony; The Site Itself; Formalities at the Site; The Kenshi; Ritual Procedures; Kaishaku; Degradation of Seppuku Chapter IV Seppuku and Shinju--Definition of Double suicide; Comparision of Seppuku and Shinju; Germs of Humanity in Battle Records; Disintegreaition from Within; Decline of Bushido; The Gempuku Ceremony; Criticism by Commoners Chapter V Revival of Seppuku--An Imperfect Renovation; Unification of Objects of Loyalty; Speculation About Bushido; Modern Seppuku; Downfall of Bushido Glossary; Bibliography; Index… (més)

Bad writing and a completely predictable and far-fetched plot plague this thin thriller. However Seward must have put a fair amount of research into Hawiian and Japanese speech as he peppers the book with it liberally and seems to have it down, although I wouldn't be able to tell otherwise. Has many failings of its era (1969). The villain is a sexy woman and is called a b!tch at one point. The Hawaiian beach boys seemed stereotypical to me, but again I wouldn't know. Stays away from exoticising Japanese women by not really featuring any. The PI, Curt Stone, is as flat as a wafer; and exposition is offered through his purported thinking which is often repetitive and completely lacking in subtlety. I enjoyed learning a little about Hawaii; and the idea of a far right extremeist cult of Japanese Nationalists who want to be Samurai and kill whitey.… (més)

This book is hilarious. I don't remember that much of it because I read it sooooo long ago. Although I'm pretty sure I must have copied down every table of Japanese words in it, I have no idea where my Japanese notebook is. Great!

I really need to read it again.

Of course you know Jack Seward, don't you? Noo.... Not from Dracula. What's that? You don't? Oh come on! Gaijin extraordinaire, master of hilariousness, hero to all Japanophiles everywhere---Jack Seward!

He's written lots of great Japanese language books: "Easy Kanji (which I have copied down into my Kanji notebook), Outrageous Japanese (which I personally own and only rarely get the urge to copy).

Anyway, this book seamlessly blends the worlds of comedy and study of Japanese... oh who am I kidding? Like they were ever separate entities to begin with! It has hilarious anecdotes about his time in Japan. Jack Seward ruthlessly makes fun of Japanese people (in a good way) while explaining family honorifics and counters. It's hilarious and it makes learning Japanese even more fun than it already is.

I need to buy this book already.… (més)