LOVE STORIES
Love speaks louder than words from foreign land

By Tanya Bricking Leach
Advertiser Staff Writer

Love overcame what was lost in translation for Craig Uyeno of Waipahu and Megumi Onji of Kyoto, Japan. Dave Miyamoto.com

He was a Waipahu-reared financial planning and budget manager who barely spoke more Japanese than "arigato gozaimasu," thank you very much.

She was a Kyoto girl down to the way she planned interior decorating with an Asian flair. She had little use for English unless she was visiting extended family in Hawai'i.

Then there was a party almost two years ago that changed everything. And this is where things get complicated.

Uyeno was a frequent guest at his brother's house for Sunday dinners. Onji was in town visiting family, and her second cousin is Uyeno's brother's wife. (Think this is hard enough to explain in English? Somehow they managed to keep things from getting lost in translation.)

Suffice it to say they were at the same dinner party, and there wasn't a lot of talking in the same language going on. Unless you're talking about the language of love. And even that took a while.

"It wasn't necessarily love at first sight," said Uyeno, 37, a 1984 Waipahu High grad. "Actually, her being from Japan, at first I really didn't take things too seriously."

But it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

"Even with the language barrier, we felt comfortable from Day 1," Uyeno said.

E-mails, phone calls and trips back and forth followed, especially after a discussion last year about their intentions. This, they decided, was the real deal in any language.

"Nice family, I thought," she said. "Nice person. Gentleman. Nice character." Sold.

Her English improved at a faster pace than his Japanese, and they made plans to be together as soon as possible.

Uyeno's father, Francis, knew enough Japanese to smooth things over between the families so everyone would feel comfortable. He gave his daughter-in-law tips about local-style customs and reminded the couple to be patient and understanding, especially regarding their language barrier.

"I think it's going to work out real well," he said.

The bride moved to Hawai'i about two weeks ago, which gave them just enough time to prepare to tie the knot Feb. 15 at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin in front of more than 150 guests. The bride, 33, is now Megumi Uyeno.

"Both of them look happy," said Warren Ozaki, the groom's sister-in-law's father, who unintentionally helped play matchmaker. "I don't know if being apart makes the heart grow fonder, but it looks like it."

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Tanya Bricking Leach writes about relationships for The Advertiser. Reach her at tbricking@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8026.