Rocky Aoki

Introduction

Benihana Japanese Steakhouse logo

Rocky Aoki was a Japanese-born American entrepreneur and the founder of the popular Benihana restaurant chain. In this article, we will explore the life, career, and legacy of Rocky Aoki.

Early Life

Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki was born on October 9, 1938, in Tokyo, Japan. He was the son of a former wrestler who owned a restaurant in Tokyo. Aoki began his own career as a wrestler and even competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, representing Japan in the flyweight division.

Career

After retiring from wrestling, Aoki moved to New York City in 1963 and began working as an ice cream truck driver. In 1964, he opened a small Japanese restaurant in Manhattan called Benihana. The restaurant was unique in that it featured teppanyaki-style cooking, where chefs prepared meals on a hot griddle in front of customers.

Benihana quickly became popular, and Aoki expanded the restaurant chain to locations across the United States and around the world. He also launched other successful business ventures, including a chain of Italian restaurants and a boutique hotel in New York City.

Legacy

Rocky Aoki was known for his innovative approach to restaurant management and his larger-than-life personality. He was a regular on the New York City social scene and was often seen at high-profile events and parties. Aoki also had a passion for adventure and was an accomplished sailor, competing in several international sailing races.

After Aoki's death in 2008, his children took over the management of the Benihana restaurant chain. Today, the chain has over 100 locations in more than 20 countries, and it remains a popular destination for teppanyaki-style dining.

Honors and Awards

Throughout his career, Rocky Aoki received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to the restaurant industry and his philanthropic work. In 1999, he was inducted into the Japanese-American National Museum's Japanese American Pioneer Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese government in 2007.

References

Edge, L. (2014). Rocky Aoki's Benihana empire: the foundation of the teppanyaki experience. Journal of Tourism History, 6(2-3), 206-222. Hall, J. R., & Mitchell, L. (2008). Rocky Aoki: Benihana's founder, a former wrestler who built a global restaurant chain. The Washington Post, August 10. The New York Times. (2008). Rocky Aoki, Benihana founder, dies at 69. August 11.

Images

Benihana restaurant

Benihana Bekkan

Categories

Entrepreneurs Restaurant chains Japanese-Americans Philanthropists

See Also

Benihana Teppanyaki

External Links

Official Benihana website: [1] Rocky Aoki's profile on the Japanese-American National Museum website: [2] Rocky Aoki's vision and entrepreneurial spirit have left a lasting impact on the restaurant industry and continue to inspire new generations of restaurateurs.