Ken Harada was made the first Japanese special envoy to the Holy See, and Archbishop Paolo Marella became the Nuncio to Japan.

[8] Harada arrived in the Vatican City in April 1942,[9] and was officially received on May 9, 1942.

[11] 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,"[12] though people close to the Vatican confirmed that the meeting had occurred.

[15] Harada served as Japan's ambassador to Italy after World War II from 1952 to 1955.

[16] He later obtained a post as the Grand Master of the Ceremonies with the Imperial Household Agency[2][17]