Tadao Hara, October 21, 1926 – August 31, 2014
Beloved husband, father and humble and faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

The Reverend Dr. Tadao Hara, age 87, died in his home in Los Alamitos, CA on Sunday, August 31, 2014 from complications due to lung cancer.

He was born on October 21, 1926 in Shimonoseki, Japan to Ikuhisa and Chitose Hara. He had two half-sisters, Kouko Tatsuuma, who predeceased him, and Masako Muro.

Dr. Hara attended Kokura High School in Kita-Kyushu, Japan. In 1943, at age 17, he joined the Japanese Imperial Navy Air Service where he was among an elite cadre selected to train to become Kamikaze pilots. He narrowly escaped death on several occasions during his training and when WWII ended, he questioned the purpose of his existence. Dr. Hara was determined to learn to speak English and asked an American missionary woman to teach him English. After refusing him on numerous occasions, she relented and taught him using the Bible as a textbook, and he subsequently became a Christian. He met his wife Suzuko at Tamagawa University and they married on May 12, 1951. Dr. Hara received his BA in English Literature from Tamagawa University in Tokyo, attended seminary at Central Bible College in Tokyo, received an MA in Theology from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA, an MA in education from California State University, Long Beach and completed his post-graduate course work at Komazawa University in Tokyo. He was conferred the honorary degrees of Doctor of Letters by Northwest University in 1990 and Doctor of Humanities from Newport Asia Pacific University in 2001. He was also a member of the Delta Epsilon Chi honor society and was named Distinguished Alumni of the College of Education at California State University, Long Beach in 1994.

Dr. Hara had a long career as an educator and minister. He was pastor of the Central Gospel Church in Tokyo from 1953-1956 and because he was bilingual, he interpreted for a number of American evangelists. During the same time period he also became a television evangelist. Dr. Hara held positions of increasing seniority at Tamagawa University where he eventually became Dean of Students before he retired from the University in 1978. He was the founder and Principal of the International Bilingual School of Los Angeles from 1979 until his retirement at age 77 in 2003. The International Bilingual School was the realization of his dream of creating a school for Japanese ex-patriate children in Southern California and teaching them to be thoughtful and productive citizens of the world, while preparing them for re-entry into the rigorous education system in Japan. He impacted the lives of thousands of children; many who went on to the finest Japanese high schools and universities. Concurrently with his tenure as an educator, Dr. Hara led Bible studies and worship services throughout his career. He published numerous articles on topics in education as well as Christianity in the U.S. Until a few years before his death, he led Japanese language worship and fellowship at the Mesa Verde United Methodist Church in Costa Mesa, CA

Dr. Hara spent most of his life between the environs of Tokyo and Southern California. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Tamagawa University alumnus association and the California State University, Long Beach Alumnus Association. He was recognized in Who's Who in American Education and served on a number of educational advisory councils in the U.S. and Japan.

Dr. Hara is survived by his wife of 63 years, Suzuko of Los Alamitos, CA, son Nobumichi Hara (Jane Marie) of Phoenix, AZ, daughter Izumi Hara (David N. Koschik) of Montclair, NJ, seven grandchildren: Naomi (Jason Hohn), Hitomi (Curtis Mewhinney), Eimi (Jonathan Flores), Yoshinobu Hara and Caroline, Eleanor and Abigail Koschik, and eight great-grandchildren; as well as his half-sister, Masako (Morikazu Muro) of Chuo-Rinkan, Japan.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 10:00 a.m., at the Anaheim Free Methodist Church 1001 N. Mayflower St., Anaheim, CA, the Rev. Dr. Shin Asami, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Tadao Hara, CSULB 49er Foundation, 6300 E. State University Dr., Ste. 332, Long Beach, CA 90815.