RETAILING
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Dissidents Seek Benihana Chief’s Ouster: A group of dissident shareholders is trying to strip founder Rocky Aoki of control of Benihana, the New York-based Japanese restaurant chain that features knife-twirling Asian chefs preparing food on grills in front of customers. Among other things, the shareholders contend that Aoki, one of the first Japanese entrepreneurs to gain an international reputation, has been providing services to Benihana through his private company at exorbitant prices. In addition to the chain of restaurants, Benihana earns royalty income from a frozen-food business and has valuable real estate in such places as New York and Hawaii. Aoki launched Benihana in 1964 after competing on Japan’s Olympic wrestling team.
