First published 2022
Rocky Aoki washes dishes and buses tables in America, but he refuses to accept limits. The Japanese immigrant pursues world-class wrestling while working restaurant jobs, then opens his own establishment. Benihana becomes a multi-million-dollar empire as Rocky introduces Japanese cuisine to American diners who have never experienced teppanyaki cooking. The business demands consume most entrepreneurs, especially those fighting perceptions of being outsiders. Rocky takes a different path. He races cars and boats between board meetings. He explores underwater depths and pilots hot air balloons across continents. Some adventures nearly kill him. His son Steve Aoki watches his father interact with celebrities and ordinary customers alike. Jack McCallum gained complete access to Rocky and his business associates to tell this story. The book reveals how one man accelerated cultural exchange between Japan and America while building a restaurant chain that changed how Americans think about dining and entertainment.
Genres: 20th-century, business, american, 21st-century, entrepreneurship, cultural
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, rags-to-riches
Setting: America, Japan
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
240 pages · Paperback · Diversion Books