There are some who say that the perfect way for the second to cut off the head is not to cut right through the neck at a blow, but to leave a little uncut, and, as the head hangs by the skin, to seize the top-knot and slice it off, and then submit it for inspection.  The reason of this is, lest, the head being struck off at a blow, the ceremony should be confounded with an ordinary execution.  According to the old authorities, this is the proper and respectful manner.  After the head is cut off, the eyes are apt to blink, and the mouth to move, and to bite the pebbles and sand.  This being hateful to see, at what amongst Samurai is so important an occasion, and being a shameful thing, it is held to be best not to let the head fall, but to hold back a little in delivering the blow.  Perhaps this may be right; yet it is a very difficult matter to cut so as to leave the head hanging by a little flesh, and there is the danger of missing the cut; and as any mistake in the cut is most horrible to see, it is better to strike a fair blow at once.  Others say that, even when the head is struck off at a blow, the semblance of slicing it off should be gone through afterwards; yet be it borne in mind that; this is unnecessary.

Three methods of carrying the sword are recognized amongst those skilled in swordsmanship.  If the rank of the principal be high, the sword is raised aloft; if the principal and second are of equal rank, the sword is carried at the centre of the body; if the principal be of inferior rank, the sword is allowed to hang downwards.  The proper position for the second to strike from is kneeling on one knee, but there is no harm in his standing up:  others say that, if the execution takes place inside the house, the second should kneel; if in the garden, he should stand.  These are not points upon which to insist obstinately:  a man should strike in whatever position is most convenient to him.

The chief duty for the assistant second to bear in mind is the bringing in of the tray with the dirk, which should be produced very quietly when the principal takes his place:  it should be placed so that the condemned man may have to stretch his hand well out in order to reach it.[111] The assistant second then returns to his own place; but if the condemned man shows any signs of agitation, the assistant second must lend his assistance, so that the head may be properly cut off.  It once happened that the condemned man, having received the tray from the assistant second, held it up for a long time without putting it down, until those near him had over and over again urged him to set it down.  It also happens that after the tray has been set down, and the assistant second has retired, the condemned man does not put out his hand to take it; then must the assistant second press him to take it.  Also the principal may ask that the tray be placed a little nearer to him, in which case his wish must be granted.  The tray may also be placed in such a way that the assistant second, holding it in his left hand, may reach the dirk to the condemned man, who leans forward to take it.  Which is the best of all these ways is uncertain.  The object to aim at is, that the condemned man should lean forward to receive the blow.  Whether the assistant second retires, or not, must depend upon the attitude assumed by the condemned man.