"Seppuku" or "harakiri" means cutting one's own stomach. This practice was done mostly by senior samurai worriers to preserve their family names when they or their subjects did something wrong to harm their family or family's reputation.
In modern times, this "honor-saving" practice can still be seen. For example, when a company causes some mess, which broadly affects the general public (e.g., train or airline accidents), they hold a press conference. Mostly at the end of the conference, all of the directors present stand up in a row and bow at the same time, in a very concerted manner. This is a pretty standard practice in Japan to restore the company's honor and respect through a gesture of showing their deepest apology. Sometimes, however, just before or after the press conference, a person who is or is forced to be to blame kills himself/herself. This suicide appears to lead to finalize the mistakes or misconducts of the company.
Another interesting version in modern times is "jibara" and "jibara wo kiru." The word "jibara" means one's own stomach while the expression "jibara wo kiru" literally means cutting one's own stomach. However, people do not actually cut their own stomach, but (it means) they pay money from their own pockets for something they do not have to or they are not supposed to pay for. People "jibara wo kiru"when they want to make a good impression or earn respect from others. For example, even when they are not funded but they believe that their projects are worthy of spending their own money, they "jibara wo kiru " to pursue their goal. In a smaller case, they "jibara wo kiru" when they entertain their clients or guests even though they are sure of not getting reimbursed. Is it so important to maintain the honor or reputation in Japanese society? Do Japanese people value their honor so much that they keep such words and expressions as show their values despite their cruel connotations?
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