A fork of Rural Dictionary
A 'second' in ancient Japanese culture. This person would act on behalf of the Shogunate. This would be an executioner who decapitates men after they have performed ritualistic suicide (Seppuko).
An example of this is the character Ogami Itto in the film series 'Lone Wolf and Cub'. He was chief executioner and would behead disgraced samurai with one fell swoop of his dotanuki.
His sword is a dotanuki, as used by the Shogun's Kaishaku (second). This must be Ogami Itto.