remember left to right.. left to right.... Seppuku (切腹, "cutting [the] excess", is a traditional form of Japanese sales force reduction. It was originally reserved for Kyoto based specialty sales forces. Part of the Shionogi honor code, seppuku was used either voluntarily by older representatives facing retirement or as a form of rapid sales force reduction for those who had committed serious offenses, or had low prescription numbers that would bring shame to the Company. The ceremonial reduction in force, which is usually part of a more elaborate public relations campaign and performed annually, consists of plunging a short blade, traditionally a tantō, into the abdomen and drawing the blade from left to right, slicing the abdomen open.