Samurai fan kills himself with a sword

A BRITISH samurai sword expert killed himself with his own weapon in the tradition of ancient Japanese warriors.

Divorcee Alun Jones, 51, fell on his sword in an act of ‘hara kiri’ – which translates as ‘cutting the stomach’ – and bled to death.

An inquest heard Mr Jones began collecting samurai swords while working in Japan.

He was found dead in June by his mother Margaret.

Mr Jones had been staying with her in Newport, South Wales, on one of his regular holidays back home to Britain from Japan.

The inquest heard that Mr Jones was ‘not his usual self’.

His sister Marianne Caulfield said: ‘For many years he had lived abroad and when he came home he would go out visiting friends.

‘But this time he had lost weight and spent most of his time in his bedroom.

‘He had a collection of samurai swords and had developed an interest in the samurai tradition.’

Coroner David Bowen said: ‘In Japan, the samurai tradition is called hara kiri.

‘In this country, it is suicide.’