Rocky Aoki
Rocky Aoki was a man of boundless energy and audacious dreams, transforming a childhood passion for athletics into a celebrated restaurant empire and a life lived at full throttle. From wrestling championships to thrilling powerboat races, his story is a testament to the pursuit of excellence and excitement, no matter the arena. Join us as we explore the extraordinary journey of the founder of Benihana, a true iconoclast who redefined American dining and embraced adventure at every turn. Rocky Aoki channeled a diverse array of talents—from wrestling to entrepreneurship—into building the globally recognized Benihana restaurant chain. Beyond his culinary empire, Aoki was a daring sportsman, achieving significant feats in wrestling, offshore powerboat racing, and even trans-Pacific balloon flight. His life was a complex tapestry of innovation, ambition, and personal challenges, leaving an indelible mark on both the restaurant industry and the world of extreme sports.
AI Summary
Rocky Aoki was a man of boundless energy and audacious dreams, transforming a childhood passion for athletics into a celebrated restaurant empire and a life lived at full throttle. From wrestling championships to thrilling powerboat races, his story is a testament to the pursuit of excellence and excitement, no matter the arena. Join us as we explore the extraordinary journey of the founder of Benihana, a true iconoclast who redefined American dining and embraced adventure at every turn.
- Rocky Aoki channeled a diverse array of talents—from wrestling to entrepreneurship—into building the globally recognized Benihana restaurant chain.
- Beyond his culinary empire, Aoki was a daring sportsman, achieving significant feats in wrestling, offshore powerboat racing, and even trans-Pacific balloon flight.
- His life was a complex tapestry of innovation, ambition, and personal challenges, leaving an indelible mark on both the restaurant industry and the world of extreme sports.
The Man Behind Benihana
Born Hiroaki Aoki in Tokyo in 1938, the world would come to know him as Rocky. His family, with roots tracing back to a samurai clan, instilled in him a certain drive—a drive he initially explored through music, playing bass in a rock and roll band called Rowdy Sounds. However, a pragmatic realization soon shifted his focus.
Aoki famously quipped, "I play bass. But I tell you why I change to wrestling: No good on tempo." This candid admission perfectly encapsulates his relentless pursuit of mastery, leading him to abandon music for the demanding world of athletics where he could truly excel.
From Dojo to Dueling Mats
His athletic prowess shone brightly at Keio University, where he excelled in track and field, karate, and wrestling. While a spirited temperament led to his expulsion, it didn't deter his wrestling ambitions. He crossed the Pacific, accepting scholarships from American colleges, settling first at Springfield College before transferring to C.W. Post.
Rocky's dedication paid off dramatically. He became a dominant force in collegiate wrestling, clinching the United States flyweight wrestling title not once, but three times—in 1962, 1963, and 1964. This era forged the discipline and competitive spirit that would define his future endeavors.
The Entrepreneurial Spark
Even while dominating the wrestling mat and studying restaurant management at New York City Community College, Aoki was already a budding entrepreneur. He hustled seven days a week, renting an ice cream truck and selling treats in Harlem. This humble beginning wasn't just about earning money—it was about observing, learning, and saving.
By 1964, with an associate degree in hand and $10,000 saved from his ice cream venture, Rocky was ready for his next big gamble. He convinced his father to co-invest, and together, they launched the very first Benihana. It was a modest four-table teppanyaki restaurant on West 56th Street in New York City.
The name 'Benihana,' meaning 'red safflower,' was a tribute from Rocky's father. Family legend tells of his father walking through the bombed-out ruins of post-war Tokyo, only to discover a single, vibrant red safflower defiantly growing amid the rubble—a potent symbol of resilience and beauty, much like Rocky's own spirit.
A Diversified Empire
Aoki's entrepreneurial spirit wasn't confined to restaurants. In 1973, he ventured into publishing, launching 'Genesis,' a men's magazine. Initially a softcore publication with two centerfolds per issue, it mirrored a cultural trend, carving out its own niche alongside more established rivals like Playboy and Penthouse.
A Life of Extreme Sports
Beyond business, Rocky Aoki lived for adrenaline. In 1981, he was part of the intrepid four-man crew of the 'Double Eagle V,' the first balloon to successfully cross the Pacific Ocean. Launching from Japan, they landed in California 84 hours and 31 minutes later, covering an astounding 5,768 miles and setting a new record.
His thirst for speed also drew him to professional offshore powerboat racing. Here, too, he demonstrated a fierce competitive drive, often winning races despite numerous crashes and mechanical failures. His own company, Benihana, even sponsored a race—the Benihana Grand Prix—which he won twice.
However, this perilous sport came with a heavy cost. In a near-fatal 1979 powerboat crash beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, Rocky's life was saved by throttleman Errol Lanier. Tragically, a blood transfusion received after this accident led to him contracting Hepatitis C, which later contributed to his health decline.
Another severe accident in 1982 ultimately led Aoki to announce his retirement from powerboat racing. He had pushed the limits of human endurance and luck, recognizing that even for a thrill-seeker like himself, there comes a time to step back from the brink.
Legal Battles and Personal Life
Rocky's life was not without its shadows and complexities. In 1998, he faced serious charges of insider trading, accused of profiting over $590,000. He pleaded guilty in 1999, resulting in a substantial fine and probation, a stark reminder that even a titan of industry could stumble.
His conviction even initiated deportation proceedings, though an immigration judge ultimately allowed him to maintain his permanent resident status. He later became a proud United States citizen, cementing his place in the country he had embraced as his own.
Aoki's personal life was as eventful as his professional one. He was married three times and, with characteristic candor, once stated he had "three kids from three different women at exactly the same time." In 2005, he even sued four of his children in a dispute over control of his multi-million dollar companies, a testament to the complexities of his family dynamics.
Among his seven children are internationally recognized figures like musician Steve Aoki and actress-model Devon Aoki. His legacy also continues through his granddaughter, model and singer-songwriter Yumi Nu, illustrating the diverse talents that flow through the Aoki lineage.
A Lasting Legacy
Despite—or perhaps because of—the myriad challenges and triumphs, Rocky Aoki left an undeniable mark. He was honored with the Award of Excellence from The International Center in New York. His early athletic achievements were also recognized with his induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995.
Rocky Aoki passed away on July 10, 2008, in New York City, due to pneumonia. He had also been battling diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, and Hepatitis C—the latter a tragic long-term consequence of his 1979 powerboat crash. His grave rests at Joshin temple in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, bringing his remarkable journey full circle.
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Rocky Aoki
Hiroaki Aoki (青木 廣彰, Aoki Hiroaki; October 9, 1938 – July 10, 2008), better known as Rocky Aoki, was a Japanese-American restaurateur, professional offshore powerboat racer and amateur wrestler. He was the founder of the Japanese cuisine restaurant chain Benihana and Genesis magazine.
He was also the father of musician Steve Aoki and model and actress Devon Aoki.
Personal life
Rocky Aoki
Hiroaki Aoki was born in Tokyo, the son of Yunosuke Aoki and his wife, Katsu. His family were descended from a samurai clan from Wakayama Prefecture, which served in the Kishū Domain.
Aoki and some friends started a rock and roll band called Rowdy Sounds, though Aoki eventually abandoned music for athletics. He would later explain, "I play bass. But I tell you why I change to wrestling: No good on tempo."
Aoki attended Keio University, where he competed in track and field, karate, and wrestling before being expelled for fighting. While some sources state that he competed for Japan in wrestling at the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome, he did not, as he had moved from Tokyo to New York City months before the Games.
Aoki was offered wrestling scholarships from several different American colleges. He attended Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and later transferred to CW Post College on Long Island. He won the United States flyweight wrestling title in 1962, 1963 and 1964.
In New York City, Aoki worked seven days a week in an ice cream truck that he rented in Harlem while studying restaurant management at New York City Community College.
Aoki, who was married three times, once said that he had "three kids from three different women at exactly the same time." He found out about the seventh with the third woman when he was sued for paternity. His third wife was Keiko Aoki, a businesswoman whom he married in 2002.
Before his death, he became a United States citizen.
Benihana
Rocky Aoki
After he received his associate degree in management in 1963, he used the $10,000 he had saved from the ice cream business to convince his father to co-invest in the first Benihana, a four-table teppanyaki restaurant on West 56th Street. "Benihana", taken from the Japanese name for safflower, was suggested by Aoki's father. According to family legend, Aoki's father was walking through the bombed-out ruins of post-war Tokyo when he happened across a single red safflower growing in the rubble.
Genesis
Rocky Aoki
In August 1973, Aoki launched Genesis, a softcore pornographic men's magazine, with two centerfolds each issue. The title changed hands several times, eventually becoming an explicit publication long after Aoki's period of ownership. Despite not enjoying the mainstream popularity of rivals Playboy and Penthouse, the magazine remained in activity for nearly 40 years.
Sports activities
Double Eagle V
Aoki partially funded and crewed the Double Eagle V, the first balloon to successfully cross the Pacific Ocean. The Double Eagle V launched from Nagashima, Japan, on November 10, 1981, and landed in Mendocino National Forest in California 84 hours and 31 minutes later. It traveled a record 5,768 miles (9,283 km). The Double Eagle V's four-man crew consisted of Rocky Aoki with Albuquerque balloonists Ben Abruzzo, Larry Newman, and Ron Clark. Overshadowed by the concurrent Space Shuttle mission STS-2, the Double Eagle V failed to attract the same degree of media attention as the earlier Double Eagle flights.
Powerboat racing
Aoki competed professionally as an offshore powerboat racer along with the 1986 APBA world champion Powerboat throttleman Errol Lanier, a former Fort Lauderdale, Florida, fireman who saved his life in a near-fatal powerboat crash in 1979 under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Despite several crashes and failures to finish due to damage to his boat or mechanical failures, Aoki was quite successful as an offshore racer, winning several races. He twice won the Benihana Grand Prix in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, sponsored by his own company — the second win came in 1982, three years after his devastating San Francisco crash. After injuries suffered in an accident later in the 1982 season, Aoki told sportswriters that he was leaving the sport.
Lawsuits
Rocky Aoki
On June 9, 1998, Aoki was charged with insider trading and profiting by more than $590,000 from it. The U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn charged Aoki with six counts of insider trading and one count of conspiracy based on trading upon inside information about Spectrum Information Technologies Inc. According to the indictment, Aoki learned through Donald Kessler, a former stock promoter, inside information concerning Spectrum's imminent hiring of John Sculley, then-chairman of Apple Computer Inc., as the chairman of Spectrum, and bought 200,000 shares of Spectrum stock. That stock rose 46% the day that this hiring was publicized.
In 1999, Aoki pleaded guilty to insider trading charges and was fined $500,000 and given three years' probation. Aoki was placed in deportation proceedings as a result of his guilty plea/conviction, but was granted relief by an immigration judge and his permanent resident ("green card") status maintained. He eventually became a United States citizen.
In 2005, Aoki sued four of his children (Grace, Kevin, Kyle, and Echo) for an alleged attempt to take control of the companies he founded, which, at the time, had an estimated value between US$60–100 million.
Honors
Rocky Aoki
Aoki was a recipient of the Award of Excellence from The International Center in New York. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995.
Death
Rocky Aoki
Aoki died on July 10, 2008, of pneumonia in New York City. At the time of his death, he had been suffering from diabetes, Hepatitis C, and cirrhosis of the liver. His hepatitis was reportedly the result of a blood transfusion after a 1979 speedboat crash under the Golden Gate Bridge.
At the time of his death, Aoki had seven children and was married to his third wife Keiko. These included musician Steve Aoki and actress-model Devon Aoki. Model and singer-songwriter Yumi Nu is his granddaughter. His grave is at the cemetery attached to Joshin temple in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.