Hara graduated from the Tokyo Prefectural School of Technology and taught there from 1922–41. He got acquainted with the work of László Moholy- Nagy, Herbert Bayer and El Lissitzky, before he started his design career. He started a studio with the photographer Kimura. Together they made a giant photo mural for the Japanese pavilion at the Paris Expo, 1937. He used montage and collage techniques which were formerly unknown in Japan. He had the philosophy that graphic design was the sum of planning and organization, typography, production methods and materials. His theories and book designs changed the out-of-date concepts of the Japanese publishing world. Hara was one of the founders of the Japan Studio (Nippon Kobo). In 1951, he was a founder member of the Japanese Advertising Artists Club. At the age of 82, he was made professor emeritus at Musashino Art University. He was also honoured by being elected president of the Nippon Design Centre.