On November 25, 1970, after a failed attempt to stage a coup at a military base in Tokyo, famed Japanese author Yukio Mishima committed seppuku (ritual disembowelment). Mishima's designated kaishakunin (the assistant meant to behead him with a katana to end his agony) was a 25-year-old student and militia follower named Masakatsu Morita. Morita lacked experience, panicked, and struck Mishima's shoulders repeatedly without severing his head.

After multiple failed attempts by Morita, another follower, Hiroyasu Koga, stepped in and cleanly decapitated Mishima. Distraught by his inability to successfully execute his duties, Morita then attempted seppuku himself but only managed a shallow cut. He too was subsequently beheaded by Koga so he wouldn't suffer.