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HENEFER -- Japan's earthquake and nuclear plant explosions have brought two families together again. A former foreign exchange student has sent his family to the couple who first welcomed him to Utah.
Nine-year-old Shinsaku and 5-year-old Kahei arrived in Utah Sunday with their mother, Yuko Akaguma, following the terrifying earthquake that rattled their home in a suburb of Tokyo.
"It is said that earthquakes shake only 30 seconds," Yuko said. "This time is 3 minutes. It was too long and too big, and so damage was so huge."
She was in her car, having just picked up Shinsaku from school and waiting outside Kahei's kindergarten classroom, when the shaking began. She thought it would be safer to remain in the car, but as the quake continued they got out, fearing a building might fall on top of them.
The aftershocks continued, followed by news of nuclear reactor explosions.
"Radiation - can't see, can't smell, "she said, "so, I don't know what has happened."
Yuko and the boys are considered family in Henefer, Utah, because 25 years ago Yuko's husband, Akira Akaguma, came to the Ovard's as an exchange student.
Randy Ovard, now Henefer's mayor, remembers, "When he got off the airplane, he came off with two flags. They were crossed. They came on a little pedestal. One was a Japanese (flag), one was an American flag. He gave me a hug and he handed me these flags and he said, ‘We apologize for the war.'"
"Here was a 17-year-old boy that was apologizing for the war. That was the first thing he gave us was those two flags. From that point on, we were bonded that quickly," he said.
With seven children of their own -- the youngest just 1 ½ years old - the Ovards had not planned for a foreign student. They agreed to keep him for only a few hours until someone from Wyoming picked him up, but no one came. Also, their only son loved the idea of a "brother" and begged for him to stay. Akira echoed the same sentiment in Japanese, and the rest is history.
Akira graduated from North Summit High School in 1988 and has visited every couple of years. After Friday's quake and tsunami, he exchanged text messages with the Ovards, who asked what they could do to help.
Becky Ovard was touched by Akira's words. "He said, ‘My family, my wife and my babies, my boys are my life and I want them to be protected. If I have to sacrifice and stay here, I'll do so because I'll do anything to take care of my boys and my wife.'"
Randy added, "He would have come but in Japan the oldest son takes care of the parents. He has two parents in their 80s."
"He was concerned about radiation on his children, radiation on his wife. They were cold, the earth hasn't stopped shaking ever since the 9.0. He said, ‘The boys are terrified, my wife is concerned and I would be most appreciative if you would make it so they have a safe place to live.'"
The Ovards, their family and friends bought bunk beds and cowboy hats for the boys, set up another room for Yuko and provided her with Japanese food and a rice cooker. Becky and Yuko registered the boys for school at North Summit Elementary even though they're not sure how long they will stay.
Yuko remembers how Akira first described the Ovards to her. "He has second family in Utah, have seven children, every day is a party. They are so kind and Henefer is so beautiful -- horses and dogs. He also said the sky is so clear and you can see a lot of stars." Yuko smiled, "They are so kind, so sweet. I love them."
Randy and Becky call Akira their son. He calls them Mom and Dad. Now his family is their family.
The Ovards are prepared to have Yuko and the boys for as long as they wish to stay, adding," We hope Akira comes, too and brings his parents."
Story written by Carole Mikita with contributions from Marc Giauque.
