The essence of bushidō is to seek death. When a warrior is faced with a choice between life and death, he chooses death. Death without seeking one's aim--is not a death in vain. When pressed with a choice between life and death, it is not necessary to gain one’s aim.

 The purpose of life of a bushi (samurai) was to be constantly prepared for death. For the military aristocracy, achieving victory in battle was not one’s ultimate aim. The true bushi does not think of victory or defeat. “He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death.” 

The Japanese culture of death is seen in the ritual practice of hara-kiri or seppuku, an 
excruciatingly painful method of dying at the center of bushi culture. When a bushi had no choice but to pay the ultimate price for his actions, it was the supreme honor to kill the self by his own hands rather than being executed.