A couple of weeks ago, the New York Times reported that Benihana’s (chain of restaurants) founder Rocky Aoki has died at age 69. He was a colorful personality (see below).

 As for the restaurants:

Benihana’s style of food is called teppan-yaki. Eating there is “equal parts restaurant, magic show and performance art,” said David Rockwell.

There is a Benihana’s restaurant near where my family lives in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. We went there from time to time and enjoyed the food and the show. I haven’t been to a restaurant here in Japan, though, which features the style of food at Benihana’s. Does anyone know if it actually exists here, and if so, where?

Back to Mr. Aoki:

He pleaded guilty to charges that he had used an illegal tip to buy stock. He was fined $500,000 and given three years’ probation.

He raced boats, and flew in hot-air balloons. In the summer of 1979, in San Francisco Bay, he had a near-fatal accident on a 38-foot powerboat. During a test run at 70 miles an hour, the boat lost its trim and dived into a wave. Mr. Aoki suffered a ruptured aorta, a lacerated liver and a leg broken in four places.

In September 1982, he was piloting a 35-foot Active Marine racer in the Kiekhaefer St. Augustine Classic in Florida. He suffered leg injuries when the boat, going 80 miles an hour, hit a swell and shattered.

His love life was as tumultuous as his racing. He had six children by two women. Mr. Aoki’s third wife, Keiko Ono Aoki, survives him, along with all of his children.