Kiri-sute gomen

The strike had to follow immediately after the offence, meaning that the striker could not attack someone for a past grievance or after a substantial amount of time.

[1] Some professions, like doctors and midwives, were not eligible targets for kiri-sute gomen while at work or heading to their workplaces, as their jobs often required them to push the boundaries of honor.

After striking down his victim, the user was required to report the incident to a nearby government official, give his version of the facts and provide at least one witness who corroborated it; he was expected to spend the next 20 days at home as a proof of contrition.

[1] Samurai visiting Edo often did all they could to obtain favorable verdicts, as an unfavorable court decision there could be even considered an act of rebellion against the shogunate.

It was usual that clan elders presented gifts to officials in order to secure their support, to the point it was said magistrates earned more through those bribes than through their own salaries.

Europeans protested that the incident violated their extraterritoriality in Japan, while the Japanese argued Richardson had disrespected Shimazu and was justifiably killed under the kiri-sute gomen rule.