Dr. Josh Park’s Courage at Fukushima

In the wake of Japan’s worst tragedy since WWII, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, compassion and understanding have been replaced by the government’s enactment of The Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, Act No. 108. This law widens the range of what can be considered confidential and those who leak secrets face up to 10 years in prison. This draconian measure is at odds with the heroic actions of Dr. Josh Park, who sacrificed his personal health to help the less fortunate in the aftermath of the disaster. This one enactment by the government of Japan takes the breath out of all of those who labored so hard to help others in time of dire need and is a form of ridicule expressive of totalitarianism at its lowest. It is an affront to the spirit of those who have lost their lives and to the memory of those who have sacrificed so much, and it is a tragedy in itself.

Dr. Josh Park

In 2012, Dr. Josh Park earned a doctorate in ministry from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California. Tragically, he passed away on June 28th, 2013, following a long battle with cancer at the age of 61. 

For nearly two decades, Dr. Park dedicated himself to caring for Tokyo’s homeless. He could often be found in parks and train stations, offering snacks, hot coffee and rice balls, as he converted his backpack into a stool and sat to console those in need. He also founded the Yoyogi Park Sidewalk Chapel with a local Japanese pastor, and worked tirelessly to bring hope and faith to those he encountered. 

June 20th, Dr. Park’s son wrote a letter of appreciation, thanking him for his honest reporting on the Tohoku disaster, which had been largely overlooked by the mainstream media. He went on to explain that his late father had been one of the first volunteers to help with the cleanup and disaster relief, and that he and his co-leader, another full-time missionary, had passed away from a rare form of cancer in their 60s. 

Dr. Park’s legacy lives on in the Yoyogi Park Sidewalk Chapel, and his compassionate strength has touched the lives of countless people. He was a shining example of the good that can be achieved when individuals come together in times of tragedy, while also highlighting the failings of those in authority. Dr. Park was brave and strong, and his mission will never be forgotten.

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