https://wikimd.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Rocky_AokiRocky Aoki - Revision history2026-04-25T09:53:21ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wikimd.org/index.php?title=Rocky_Aoki&diff=5832941&oldid=prevPrab: CSV import2024-05-27T23:45:12Z<p>CSV import</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Rocky_Aoki.jpg|Rocky Aoki|thumb]] {{Short description|Japanese-American restaurateur and founder of Benihana}}<br />
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Rocky Aoki<br />
| image = <br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_name = Hiroaki Aoki<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|10|9}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|7|10|1938|10|9}}<br />
| death_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]<br />
| nationality = [[Japanese American]]<br />
| occupation = [[Restaurateur]], [[entrepreneur]]<br />
| known_for = Founder of [[Benihana]]<br />
| spouse = <br />
| children = 7, including [[Steve Aoki]] and [[Devon Aoki]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki''' (October 9, 1938 – July 10, 2008) was a [[Japanese American]] [[restaurateur]] and [[entrepreneur]] best known as the founder of the [[Benihana]] chain of [[teppanyaki]] restaurants. <br />
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== Early life ==<br />
Rocky Aoki was born in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]], to Yunosuke Aoki and Katsu Aoki. His father was a former [[Japanese wrestler]] who later opened a coffee shop in Tokyo. Rocky Aoki moved to the [[United States]] in 1959 on a [[wrestling]] scholarship and attended [[Springfield College]] in [[Massachusetts]] before transferring to [[CW Post College]] on [[Long Island]].<br />
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== Career ==<br />
In 1964, Aoki opened the first Benihana restaurant on [[West 56th Street]] in [[New York City]]. The restaurant was unique for its [[teppanyaki]] style of cooking, where chefs prepared food on a grill in front of customers, combining cooking with a performance. The concept quickly gained popularity, and Aoki expanded the chain across the United States and internationally.<br />
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== Personal life ==<br />
Rocky Aoki was married three times and had seven children, including [[DJ]] and music producer [[Steve Aoki]] and model and actress [[Devon Aoki]]. He was also an avid [[adventurer]] and [[sports enthusiast]], participating in activities such as [[offshore powerboat racing]] and [[hot air ballooning]].<br />
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== Death ==<br />
Rocky Aoki passed away on July 10, 2008, in [[New York City]] due to complications from [[pneumonia]].<br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
Rocky Aoki's legacy lives on through the continued success of the Benihana restaurant chain and the accomplishments of his children in various fields.<br />
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== Related pages ==<br />
* [[Benihana]]<br />
* [[Steve Aoki]]<br />
* [[Devon Aoki]]<br />
* [[Teppanyaki]]<br />
* [[Japanese American]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:1938 births]]<br />
[[Category:2008 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:American restaurateurs]]<br />
[[Category:Japanese emigrants to the United States]]<br />
[[Category:People from Tokyo]]<br />
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia]]<br />
[[Category:American people of Japanese descent]]<br />
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