The seconds are three in number—­the chief second, the assistant second, and the inferior second.  When the execution is carried out with proper solemnity, three men are employed; still a second and assistant second are sufficient.  If three men serve as seconds, their several duties are as follows:—­The chief second strikes off the head; that is his duty:  he is the most important officer in the execution by hara-kiri. The assistant second brings forward the tray, on which is placed the dirk; that is his duty:  he must perform his part in such a manner that the principal second is not hindered in his work.  The assistant second is the officer of second importance in the execution.  The third or inferior second carries the head to the chief witness for identification; and in the event of something suddenly occurring to hinder either of the other two seconds, he should bear in mind that he must be ready to act as his substitute:  his is an office of great importance, and a proper person must be selected to fill it.

Although there can be no such thing as a kaishaku (second) in any case except in one of hara-kiri, still in old times guardians and persons who assisted others were also called kaishaku:  the reason for this is because the kaishaku, or second, comes to the assistance of the principal.  If the principal were to make any mistake at the fatal moment, it would be a disgrace to his dead body:  it is in order to prevent such mistakes that the kaishaku, or second, is employed.  It is the duty of the kaishaku to consider this as his first duty.

When a man is appointed to act as second to another, what shall be said of him if he accepts the office with a smiling face?  Yet must he not put on a face of distress.  It is as well to attempt to excuse oneself from performing the duty.  There is no heroism in cutting a man’s head off well, and it is a disgrace to do it in a bungling manner; yet must not a man allege lack of skill as a pretext for evading the office, for it is an unworthy thing that a Samurai should want the skill required to behead a man.  If there are any that advocate employing young men as seconds, it should rather be said that their hands are inexpert.  To play the coward and yield up the office to another man is out of the question.  When a man is called upon to perform the office, he should express his readiness to use his sword (the dirk may be employed, but the sword is the proper weapon).  As regards the sword, the second should borrow that of the principal:  if there is any objection to this, he should receive a sword from his lord; he should not use his own sword.  When the assistant seconds have been appointed, the three should take counsel together about the details of the place of execution, when they have been carefully instructed by their superiors in all the ceremonies; and having made careful inquiry, should there be anything wrong, they should appeal to their superiors for instruction.