Ken Harada (原田 健, Harada Ken, born 1893 - September 18, 1973)[4] was a
chargé d'affaires to
Vichy France[4][5] and a diplomat to the
Holy See from
Japan.[6] He was appointed as a special envoy to the Vatican, and served in this capacity from 1942 to 1945.[4] He was the first diplomatic representative to the Vatican from Japan.[5]
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.[7] Harada arrived in the
Vatican City in April 1942,[8] and was officially received on May 9, 1942.[9] Harada expressed Japan's desire for peace to
Pope Pius XII on occasion, a year before Japan agreed to peace.[10] 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,"[11] though people close to the Vatican confirmed that the meeting had occurred.[12]
Upon the end of Harada's appointment, Pope Pius XII knighted Harada into the
Order of St. Sylvester.[13]
Harada served as Japan's ambassador to Italy after World War II.[14]
^"New ambassador ROME Thurs". The Straits Times. Singapore. October 10, 1952. p. 3. Archived from
the original on September 26, 2013. Japan's first postwar ambassador to Italy, arrived here today by air from Tokyo.
^Quigley 1991, p. 168: "Following his service at the Vatican Ambassador Ken Harada was appointed by the Emperor Grand Master of the Ceremonies of the Imperial Household"