Ikehara was the first Asian student at Queen's (BA 1896).
He was attracted to the University after meeting the charismatic Principal George Monro Grant while en route from Japan to Canada to attend high school. At Queen's he was a popular student, elected to many offices, including the role of secretary of the Alma Mater Society.
He was a skilled calligrapher and the first pages of the Domesday Book Of Queen's University, the University's chronicle, are in his hand. He returned to Japan after graduation, where he became a prominent businessman and a noted collector of oriental antiques.