It was usually performed by certain high ranking Japanese Officials and when they suffered a Major blunder in the war, or something that was considered MAJORLY unhonorable, and that's the key here, honor. Honor was HUGE in Japan, your family would consider you worthless if you didn't have honor, so doing something like losing a battle and surrendering were considered cowardly, so to maintain their honor and avoid capture they would commit Seppuku
They were both seeking religious freedom
Rococo was a common art during his rule in the 18th century
