logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
53m 57s

Rocky Aoki: Hibachi’s a Bitch and Then Y...

Wondery
About this episode

Rocky Aoki, the son of a vaudeville performer and a tango dancer, grows up in the wreckage of post-war Tokyo. With his natural flair for entertainment, he opens his first Benihana restaurant in Manhattan, making sure to entertain his customers via knife-wielding chefs. Rocky builds his business up throughout the 80s, stopping at nothing to make his restaurant empire bullet-proof, but he ends up almost bringing the ship down after having several affairs, a secret family, and a conviction for insider trading. To this day his kids and his widow, Keiko Aoki, are still battling it out over the Benihana trust and its flashy legacy.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now.


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 6
Imelda Marcos: The First Lady of Excess Part 2 | 181
After declaring martial law in 1972, Ferdinand Marcos cemented his dictatorship over the Philippines – jailing opponents, silencing dissent, and amassing untold wealth with his wife, Imelda. But as the country’s economy buckled, the Filipino people pushed back through protests, l ... Show More
46m 3s
Sep 29
Imelda Marcos: The First Lady of Excess Part 1 | 180
Imelda Marcos - the former beauty queen turned First Lady of the Philippines – was as famous for her 1,000 pairs of shoes and jawbreaker-sized diamonds as she was infamous for the fortune that she and her husband, President Ferdinand Marcos, stole from their country. While Imelda ... Show More
46m 47s
Sep 22
Andrew Caspersen: Rich People Problems | 178
Andrew Caspersen seemed to have it all: Ivy League credentials, athletic talent and a trust fund that fueled his reputation as a rising star in finance. But behind his polished image was a spiral of drinking, gambling, and reckless bets on the stock market. Soon, his risky trades ... Show More
53m 48s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
Ke Huy Quan: Don’t Stop Believing | 278
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Richies! In light of AAPI Month, we have a story about someone who has given “comeback” a whole new meaning. After fleeing North Vietnam as a child with his family, Ke Huy Quan turns to acting and is immediately cast in “I ... Show More
44m 13s
Dec 2024
Pedro Pascal: Living the Dream | 255
Pedro Pascal is a testament to persistence. When he was just a baby, his family fled Chile for America. As a young man, he decided he wanted to be a movie star, and began that journey. But the obstacles and hardships he faced on that path were more than those of the typical strug ... Show More
43m 53s
Feb 2025
From “The Wood” to “The Mandalorian”: Rick Famuyiwa Proves Good Stories Are Universal
There are SO many different ideas out there about what it takes to make it in Hollywood. But our guest today, Rick Famuyiwa, is living proof that carving out your own lane is the move. You probably know him from his recent work, like the hit show “The Mandalorian,” or his 2015 in ... Show More
50m 36s
Mar 2025
Muhammad Ali vs. The Draft | The Final Round | 3
By 1969, Muhammad Ali is at a crossroads, his career and freedom hanging in the balance as his draft evasion case reaches the Supreme Court. Behind closed doors, justices clash over his fate, and an unexpected voice shapes the final decision. Be the first to know about Wondery’s ... Show More
40m 56s
Jan 2025
Michelle Yeoh: Never Give Up | 262
Michelle Yeoh was a gravity-defying, glass ceiling-smashing Hong Kong action film star for years, until she decides to tackle Hollywood. But her road to international stardom is paved with heartbreak and struggles. She endures years fighting against typecasting and borderline rac ... Show More
41m 23s
Jul 15
Boundaries, Break Ups, and Comebacks with Law Roach
A little bit of shade and a whole lotta slay! Today, the legendary image architect Law Roach joins us to set the record straight — from his fabulously dramatic (and undeniably extra) unretirement to why he actually enjoys being cast as the villain on reality TV. Law gets real abo ... Show More
59m 40s
Mar 2025
Throwing Punches and Shade with Claressa Shields and Ryan Destiny
You ever meet somebody and just know they got that FIRE inside them? Well, today we’re sitting down with none other than The GWOAT herself, boxing legend Claressa Shields, and Detroit’s own Ryan Destiny, who plays Claressa in the new film “The Fire Inside,” to talk all about ligh ... Show More
54m 4s
Apr 2025
Tyler Perry: Turning Pain into Power | 274
Born in New Orleans, young Tyler Perry is forced to contend with all sorts of abuse. Some is at the hands of his explosive and alcoholic father, as well as neighbors and people he thought he could trust. Eventually, he escapes to Atlanta to pursue his dreams of writing and perfor ... Show More
46m 35s
Sep 16
"Baddie Baddie" from the Bronx with Ice Spice
When Ice Spice pulls up, we get into EVERYTHING—past, present, AND future. She talks holding onto her Bronx roots (from food to fashion) and how she accidentally slept on her breakout track "Munch." Fresh off teaming up with Latto for their latest track "Gyatt," she’s teasing wha ... Show More
57m 27s
Jan 2025
Station Nightclub Fire | Pyrotechnics | 1
In February 2003, a small nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island called the Station gets set to host a performance by ‘80s rock band Great White. But unbeknownst to the club’s patrons, owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian and their staff have cut corners on safety. And when Grea ... Show More
32m 47s