The term is actually 'seppuku'. That was the ritual suicide by self-disembowelment of samurai, yes. 'Hara-kiri' literally means 'stomach-cut' and is an accepted though not strictly accurate equivalent, true.
If the 'well researched' thing was meant towards me, I don't recall using the term 'hara-kiri' anywhere in my post, and I can only say that my information is as current as I could have it 2 months ago when I was taking my classes.
Bayushi Tasogare