'Samurai death' contest cancelled after criticism for bad taste

TOKYO (AFP): An outlandish contest daring participants to impersonate Japanese Samurai writhing in pain after "seppuku" - ritual suicide - has been called off after criticism that it was in poor taste.

Dubbed the "Seppuku Contest", the event was slated to take place next month in the western Japanese city of Matsue, formerly known as a feudal lord town.