Ken Harada

was a chargé d'affaires to Vichy France and a diplomat to the Holy See from Japan. He was appointed as a special envoy to the Vatican, and served in this capacity from 1942 to 1945.

Diplomat to the Holy See In 1942, the Holy See began de facto diplomatic relations with Japan, though the United States and United Kingdom protested. Ken Harada was made the first Japanese special envoy to the Holy See, and Archbishop Paolo Marella became the Nuncio to Japan. Harada arrived in the Vatican City in April 1942, and was officially received on May 9, 1942. Harada expressed Japan's desire for peace to Pope Pius XII on occasion, a year before Japan agreed to peace. The Japanese government denied that Harada had expressed a willingness for the country to negotiate peace, declaring the report was "so absurd it is not worth the trouble to deny," though people close to the Vatican confirmed that the meeting had occurred. Following the Allied occupation of Rome in June 1944, Harada was briefly harassed by US troops that entered his residence in Rome outside Vatican walls, but he was allowed to remain in his position.

Upon the end of Harada's appointment, Pope Pius XII knighted Harada in January 1946 into the Order of St. Sylvester.

Later diplomatic career Harada served as Japan's ambassador to Italy after World War II from 1952 to 1955.

Grand master of the ceremonies He later obtained a post as the Grand Master of the Ceremonies with the Imperial Household Agency.