Private Kazuo Harada

Birth: March 24, 1890 in Fukuoka, Japan
Death: August 15, 1918 in England
Service: WWI
Regimental Number: 697081

Kazuo Harada was born in Fukuoka, Japan on March 24, 1890 and immigrated to Canada on March 21, 1908. His occupation was a fisherman. Otohachi Koyanagi, Kazuo’s uncle, was also a fisherman in Eburne, Richmond, British Columbia working for the Terra Nova Cannery.
 
Kazuo was a single man. He lived with his cousin, Hikotaro Koyanagi for a few months in 1916 at 240 Alexander Street, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Kazuo Harada enlisted in Calgary, Alberta on September 1, 1916. He enlisted in Alberta because he was not permitted to enlist in British Columbia. He joined the 175th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Kazuo embarked for England on October 3, 1916 aboard the S.S. Saxonia. On arrival at Liverpool, Kazuo was transferred to the 21st Reserve Battalion then to the 50th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Kazuo Harada was wounded at Belle Grenay, France on March 11, 1917. He was hospitalized for many months before being able to rejoin his Battalion later that year. In the summer of 1918, Kazuo faced intense combat again at the Battle of Amiens, France. On August 10, 1918 Kazuo was seriously injured. He was transferred to Netley Hospital, England where he died on August 15, 1918. Kazuo was buried in the hospital cemetery, Netley Military Cemetery.

The Canadian government sent Kazuo’s mother, Teo Koyanagi, who lived in Japan, the Memorial Cross, Plaque and Scroll. Kazuo Harada’s name is written in the First World War Book of Remembrance on page 423. The book is displayed inside the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The Japanese Canadian Association in Vancouver, British Columbia unveiled the Japanese War Memorial in Stanley Park in 1920, upon which Kazuo’s name is inscribed. On May 31, 2024, Private Kazuo Harada and Private Hikotaro Koyanagi’s names were added to the Richmond Cenotaph. A rededication ceremony to honour and remember these two fallen soldiers took place on October 4, 2024 at the Richmond Cenotaph.