Reverend Motoyuki Nomura, a Japanese social activist who dedicated himself to aiding the poor in Cheonggyecheon, Seoul, after selling his home in Tokyo, passed away on July 26th at the age of 94. Purme Foundation announced on the 29th that he had been receiving treatment for malignant lymphoma since June.
Reverend Nomura first visited Korea in 1958, witnessing the lingering scars of Japanese colonial rule and the profound wounds left by the Korean War. Driven by "a spirit of reflection and atonement," he returned to Korea in 1973 and encountered the harrowing reality of the Cheonggyecheon slum at the time. He did not turn away from the suffering of the impoverished, going as far as selling his Tokyo home, inherited from his mother, to fund relief efforts. The donated sum was 75 million yen, a substantial amount equivalent to approximately 800 million Korean Won. Reverend Nomura also appealed for support from the international community, including Japan, Germany, and New Zealand, conducting fundraising activities to establish facilities like nurseries, thereby laying the groundwork for the self-reliance of the poor. In the 1970s, he worked alongside the late former lawmaker Je Jeong-gu, demonstrating deep solidarity with those in need in Korean society.
His philanthropic activities continued for half a century. After learning about the Purme Foundation in 2009 through children's book author Im Jeong-jin, he visited Korea annually to comfort children with disabilities and their families. He also contributed significantly to the construction of the Purme Foundation Nexon Children's Rehabilitation Hospital by donating money he had saved by living frugally. Reverend Nomura's contributions extended beyond material support; he demonstrated deep reflection on Korea's painful history through his actions. In 2012, he knelt before the comfort women statue in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, expressing atonement for Japan's past and conveying a message of true reconciliation. This act led to several death threats from Japanese right-wing factions, but his conviction remained unshaken.
His cross-national and cross-generational spirit of giving and philanthropy earned him the '1st Asia Philanthropy Award (APA)' in 2015. He had a deep affection for Korean culture and nature, documenting various scenes across Korea, including Cheonggyecheon, Dongdaemun Market, and Guro Industrial Complex, with his camera. In 2006, he donated 20,000 of these photographic materials to the Seoul Museum of History, leaving behind valuable historical records.
His son, Makoto Nomura, recalled his father's life, saying, "Even in his old age, with reduced income, my father continued to save little by little and donate. He humbled himself and practiced the biblical teaching, 'Enter through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13),' every day." Baek Kyung-hak, Permanent Representative of the Purme Foundation, shared, "I remember Reverend Nomura's bright smile when I asked his last wish, and he said, 'I hope my son Makoto lives a life dedicated to serving children with disabilities in Korea.'" Reverend Nomura often said, "Don't waste money or people's time; let me pass quietly," and in accordance with his wishes, no funeral service will be held.
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