Kenichi Ara (?? ??, Ara Kenichi, born February 9, 1944) is a Japanese political commentator and researcher on modern history.
Until the 1980s, he used the pen name Hideo Hatakenaka.
He is associated with the far-right and has participated in a number of organizations to promote far-right causes.
Currently he is chairman of the Chugoku no Konichi Kinenkan no Futo na Shashin no Tekkyo o Motomeru Kokumin no Kai, which seeks the removal of "inappropriate photographs" from war museums in China, and is advisor to both the Tamogami Ronbun to Jieikan no Meiyo o Kangaeru Kai, which supports Toshio Tamogami, and the ultranationalist Shuken Kaifuku o Mezasu Kai.
He was born in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture and is a graduate of Sendai Niko High School and the Faculty of Literature at Tohoku University.
He worked at King Records from the spring of 1966 but retired around the age of 40.