Rocky Aoki: Hibachi’s a Bitch and Then You Die | 163

Summary

Podcast Summary: Scamfluencers – "Rocky Aoki: Hibachi’s a Bitch and Then You Die" (Episode 163)

Release Date: June 16, 2025

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Introduction

In episode 163 of Scamfluencers, hosted by Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi, Wondery delves into the tumultuous life of Rocky Aoki, the visionary entrepreneur behind the iconic Benihana restaurant chain. This detailed narrative explores Rocky’s rise to fame, his unscrupulous ventures, and the familial chaos that ensued following his legal troubles and untimely death.

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Founding Benihana: From Humble Beginnings

The story begins in the spring of 1964 in Midtown Manhattan, where a young Rocky Aoki, inspired by his father's vaudeville background, sought to introduce a novel Japanese dining experience to America. Rocky's father, Yunosuke, had established a coffee shop named Benihana in Tokyo, drawing his name from a red flower that symbolized hope amidst the devastation of the 1944 Tokyo bombings.

In Midtown, Rocky envisioned a restaurant where chefs perform teppanyaki-style cooking right before customers' eyes. Despite initial struggles against racial prejudices and financial losses, a pivotal moment came when Clementine Paddleford, renowned food critic for the New York Herald Tribune, gave Benihana a glowing review. As Sarah narrates, “[Clementine] is best known for her palate. At this time, Clementine can single-handedly make or break a New York City eatery” (02:42).

This endorsement transformed Benihana from a failing establishment to a popular sensation. Within three years, Rocky expanded to multiple locations, eventually making Benihana a global phenomenon and himself a celebrity in the process.

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Rocky’s Rise and Ethical Lapses

Rocky's entrepreneurial spirit was unmatched. He didn't limit himself to restaurants; he ventured into various side businesses, some of which bordered on illegality. From hoovering cocaine in the 1980s to maintaining secret families and engaging in insider trading, Rocky’s ambition often overshadowed ethical considerations. As Sarah highlights, “Rocky's business empire will redefine the role of Japanese cuisine in American culture forever” (04:44), but his methods began to tarnish his reputation.

Despite these scandals, Rocky's Benihana continued to thrive, thanks in part to his knack for self-promotion and leveraging American fascination with Japanese culture. His innovations, such as inventing green tea ice cream and the saketini, further cemented his legacy in the culinary world.

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Family Dynamics and Personal Downfall

Rocky's personal life was as chaotic as his business ventures. His tumultuous relationship with his father, marked by both admiration and physical altercations, set the stage for future familial conflicts. Sarah recounts a heated exchange where Rocky threw a punch, to which his father responded by throwing an ashtray (08:32).

Rocky's multiple marriages and secret affairs added layers of complexity to his life. His marriage to Chizuru, a family friend, brought stability initially, but his subsequent marriage to Pamela Hillburger in 1981 introduced significant strife. This second marriage, coupled with the revelation of a secret son, Kyle, led to Chizuru's divorce and deepened the rifts within the Aoki family.

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Insider Trading Scandal

In 1993, Rocky encountered Donald Kessler, a stock promoter who provided him with insider information about Spectrum Cable's leadership changes. Acting on this tip, Rocky invested heavily, yielding a substantial profit. However, this seemingly lucrative move planted the seeds for his downfall.

By 1997, Kessler was under federal investigation for tax evasion and securities fraud. The probe extended to include Rocky, culminating in a 1999 grand jury indictment on six counts of insider trading and one count of conspiracy. Facing potential prison time and hefty fines, Rocky sought to protect his legacy by disassociating from Benihana and transferring control to his children through a trust. Despite pleading guilty, his health issues enabled him to evade prison, resulting in a $500,000 fine instead (31:43).

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Family Feud and Business Turmoil

Rocky’s legal troubles exacerbated existing tensions within his family. His children, feeling sidelined and distrustful of Keiko Ono—Rocky's third wife who married him in 2002—began a bitter battle over control of the Benihana empire. The division of Benihana into two separate entities, Benihana of Tokyo and Benihana Inc., further complicated matters.

Keiko’s aggressive business maneuvers and Rocky’s continual revising of his will to favor her intensifying the conflict. By 2006, the legal disputes had deeply fractured the family, leading to Rocky disinheriting several of his children and exacerbating the power struggle over Benihana’s future.

Notable Quote:

“I want to help my kids, but I want my children to crawl, to walk, then run on their own. Then I help them, but they can't even crawl.” – Rocky Aoki (46:13)

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Rocky’s Final Days and Legacy

Diagnosed with liver cancer in 2007, Rocky’s health rapidly declined. In his final months, he sought reconciliation with his children, culminating in a heartfelt birthday celebration in October 2007. Despite this fleeting moment of unity, his 2008 death reignited the family feud, leaving unresolved tensions and a fragmented Benihana legacy.

Posthumously, Keiko took control of Benihana of Tokyo, introducing changes that deviated from Rocky’s original vision, including the controversial Benny Burger and Benny Girls. These innovations sparked further legal battles and diluted the brand's identity, ensuring that the Aoki family's legacy would remain mired in conflict.

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Aftermath and Reflections

The episode concludes with Scaachi and Sarah reflecting on the irreversible damage caused by Rocky’s unchecked ambition and unethical decisions. They ponder whether the family feud was inevitable, given the unstable foundation Rocky had built, and emphasize the importance of clear wills and family communication to prevent such tragedies.

Notable Quote:

“It feels a little like a family where it was inevitable that they were gonna have this big fight. I mean, money is bad for people. It's really bad for people.” – Sachi Kol (54:38)

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Conclusion

Scamfluencers presents a cautionary tale of ambition run amok, highlighting how Rocky Aoki's relentless pursuit of success and wealth led to personal and familial ruination. The episode underscores the destructive potential of unethical practices and the enduring impact of familial conflicts on business legacies.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Clementine Paddleford on Benihana’s Potential: “[Clementine] is best known for her palate. At this time, Clementine can single-handedly make or break a New York City eatery.” (02:42)

• Rocky on American Preferences: “Americans enjoy eating in exotic surroundings but are deeply mistrustful of exotic foods.” (13:13)

• Rocky's Reflections on His Children: “I want to help my kids, but I want my children to crawl, to walk, then run on their own.” (46:13)

• Sachi Kol on Familial Feud: “It feels a little like a family where it was inevitable that they were gonna have this big fight. I mean, money is bad for people. It's really bad for people.” (54:38)

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Further Listening:

For more intriguing stories of deception and influence, subscribe to Scamfluencers on the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Explore exclusive episodes and early access by joining Wondery+ here.

Transcript

[Sarah Haggie]

Hey there, Scamfluencers fans want to be the first to know how these wild scams unfold. Join us on Patreon to get early access to episodes, ad free listening and exclusive content that reveals even more of the drama. Just search for Scamfluencers on Patreon and dive deeper into the scandal. Just a disclaimer before we start this episode. I lost my voice for a few days. It's finally back. But I am now left with this sexy rasp which you all have to enjoy. Wondering, Sachi, do you have like a dream dining experience? Like something that you just want to experience so badly?

[Sachi Kol]

No, no, not really.

[Sarah Haggie]

It's okay. I'll throw one out for you. Okay. Mine is very attainable. It is literally just to go to Benihana.

[Sachi Kol]

Mmm.

[Sarah Haggie]

I don't know why I haven't gone. Like, I've clearly been around one, but I feel like now it has to be so special.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah. Dinner and a show. I get it. I would go with you. We should go. There's one in Toronto.

[Sarah Haggie]

Someone take us to Benihana.

[Sachi Kol]

Benihana sponsor us?

[Sarah Haggie]

Maybe not. Maybe not after this.

[Sachi Kol]

Okay, maybe not. Nevermind. I don't know yet.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, today I'm going to tell you all about the insane story of how Benihana got huge. But most importantly, it's a story about Rocky Aoki, the brilliant entrepreneur behind the beloved brand. He introduced a type of Japanese food to the masses, but a string of scams nearly tarnished his reputation. It's the spring of 1964 in Midtown Manhattan. A woman named Clementine Paddleford is walking down West 56th street when a tiny storefront catches her eye. Clementine's got blonde, wavy hair, a prominent nose and a bright sm, but she's perhaps best known for her palate. At this time, Clementine is the restaurant critic for the New York Herald Tribune and the best known food critic in the country. Her opinion can single handedly make or break a New York City eatery. After more than 30 years in the industry, she probably feels like she's seen it all. But what she sees through this restaurant's front window is entirely new. Inside, a man is cooking for customers right at their table on a built in steel grill. The chef uses a huge knife and long spatula to chop up pieces of steak and flip them in the air with dramatic flourish. Sachi, this sounds familiar to you? We've all seen the videos.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah, this is classic Benihana. I want him to throw the steak into my mouth.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yes, it is classic Benihana. One day we will get steak and shrimp tossed into our mouths. This tiny Japanese restaurant is the first ever Benihana, and Clementine decides right then and there that she wants to review it. When she finally walks into the restaurant, it's lined with tables that are 10ft long and 5ft wide. Waitresses in kimonos pour her tea, and an expert chef in an all white uniform cooks for her. Right there at the table, she samples a bunch of different menu items and loves them all. The shrimp is deliciously browned. The vegetables sit on top of what she calls a haystack of bean sprouts. Clementine is delighted and writes a rave review. After it's published, other food critics, TV crews, and trendy New Yorkers start packing into the restaurant. The owner, Rocky Aoki, had been on the verge of shutting the restaurant down, but thanks to Clementine, Benihana grows popular enough that Rocky opens a second location within three years. Eventually, his hibachi empire grows to include locations all over the world. In the process, Rocky himself becomes a celebrity. But like so many people who get rich and famous fast, some of what Rocky does with his new fame and fortune isn't above board. He'll end up opening countless questionable side businesses, start at least one secret family, and use inside information to make some timely investments. Rocky's business empire will redefine the role of Japanese cuisine in American culture forever. But when it comes time for Rocky to think about his legacy, the fate of his fortune will throw his family into total chaos.

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[Sachi Kol]

From.

[Sarah Haggie]

Wondery I'm Sarah Haggie.

[Sachi Kol]

And I'm Sachi Kol.

[Sarah Haggie]

And this is Scamfluencers.

[Sachi Kol]

Come and give me your attention.

[Sarah Haggie]

I won't ever learn my Lesson from.

[Sachi Kol]

The speakers to 11.

[Sarah Haggie]

I feel like a legend. Benihana is best known for its open stove tops and chefs that turn food prep into performance art. But the chain restaurant's origins are a little less savory. Rocky Aoki overcame racism in the 60s to make a splash as a chef, then spent the 80s hoovering cocaine, crashing speedboats, maintaining secret families, and, yes, doing a little insider trading. He left behind a hefty legacy. Millions of dollars, dozens of restaurants, and six kids. And thanks to his penchant for drama and a controversial third wife, Rocky spent his life serving up more than just teppanyaki. This is Rocky Aoki. Hibachi's a Bitch and Then youn die legend. It's October 1938 in Tokyo, Japan. Rocky Aoki is the firstborn son of a couple with the flair for entertaining. His father is a vaudeville performer who idolizes Fred Astaire, and his mother is a tango dancer. It's a turbulent time to grow up in Tokyo. In 1944, when Rocky's just six years old, American planes firebombed the city, killing 100,000 people. In the wake of this tragedy, Rocky's dad, Yunosuke, opens a coffee shop. He names it Benihana, the Japanese name for the red flower he saw blooming in the wreckage of the bombings.

[Sachi Kol]

Oh, that is not what I thought that meant. I didn't really think about what it meant, and I didn't know it meant that.

[Sarah Haggie]

I thought it meant food that's flipping around.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah, like food in air. Feed me. I don't know what I thought it was.

[Sarah Haggie]

No, it's actually very beautiful.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah, I didn't think it was this poignant, and I immediately.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, growing up, Rocky's kind of a handful. He loves his mom and is extremely respectful of her. But he and his dad have a more complicated relationship. On one hand, Rocky idolizes him. His father loves music, so when Rocky is a teen, he learns how to play the bass. But they also fight constantly and even get physical sometimes. During one argument, Rocky throws a punch at his dad, who responds by throwing an ashtray at his chest. In high school, Rocky joins a band, and he gets in trouble for fighting and selling girly pictures for a while. He seems to find an outlet in wrestling. He's just 5 foot 4 and 114 pounds, but he's good enough that he gets recruited to wrestle for Japan in the 1960 Olympics. His talent also attracts attention from American universities, and he accepts a scholarship offer from a school in Massachusetts. Sachi, check out this photo of young Rocky in his wrestling getup.

[Sachi Kol]

He's so cute.

[Sarah Haggie]

He's so cute.

[Sachi Kol]

Great jaw. He looks like a little. A little scrappy guy. I dig it.

[Sarah Haggie]

He is a little scrappy. And Rocky's college days don't last long. He's suspended for multiple infractions, including breaking another student's nose. So he decides to leave and make a big move to New York City. By the early 60s, Rocky is studying restaurant management at a technical college, presumably hoping to follow in his father's footsteps. Around this time, he also starts sporting a tightly permed jheri curl. He later tells New York magazine he adopted this style so that white people could tell him apart from other Asian guys.

[Sachi Kol]

Objectively silly, but this also probably worked.

[Sarah Haggie]

It is very endearing to think about like this little Japanese guy with jheri.

[Sachi Kol]

Curl, like getting the perm and explaining why he was getting it. Yeah.

[Sarah Haggie]

Also, it's around this time Rocky starts selling ice cream out of a truck to make ends meet. Only no one in midtown wants to buy from him, probably because of racism. So Rocky pivots. He parks his truck in Harlem blasting Japanese music and puts little paper umbrellas on the soft serve. He tapes articles about his wrestling accomplishments to the side of his truck to help him stand out from the crowd and to intimidate potential rivals. And it works. People line up down the block to get ice cream from him. Rocky's a born businessman. He's got a natural talent for self promotion and a powerful drive to succeed. And he isn't afraid to lean into Americans skewed perceptions about Japanese culture to make a buck. But Rocky has dreams bigger than a roving ice cream truck. He wants to make his mark in the food world the same way his dad did. But Rocky is about to discover that success in the restaurant business takes generous heapings of hard work and determination. And a pretty huge serving of luck. It's 1963 and 25 year old Rocky is doing something a lot of us probably did in our 20s. Calling his dad to ask for money. But Rocky's not trying to make rent or buy beer. Instead, he wants to open a business. Rocky saved up $10,000 from his summer running the ice cream truck. And now he's thinking about his next move. He wants to open a restaurant just like his dad did back in Tokyo. He's even got a location in mind. A tiny spot in midtown Manhattan with space for just four tables. It's perfect for the concept. He's toying with Teppanyaki Sachi. What do you know about this kind of food.

[Sachi Kol]

I mean, that's what Benihana is, right? It's when they make the food on, like, a flat top in front of you, right?

[Sarah Haggie]

Yes. It's like a specific cooking technique where a chef makes things like steak and seafood on top of that flat top grill we are thinking about right in front of customers. It originated in Japan, but teppanyaki isn't really traditional Japanese cuisine. In fact, it was only invented after World War II, when occupying North American soldiers were looking for cuisine that was more like the American food they were used to back home. There aren't a ton of Teppanyaki restaurants in the States, but Rocky figures if Americans love this kind of cooking abroad, maybe they'll love it in America too. His dad agrees, and he's excited to get on board. He's always wanted to expand the family's restaurant business into the States, and Rocky is excited that he can call the shots while his dad stays in Japan. Working with his dad on a business, even from afar, could be a tricky power dynamic for a father and son who are used to butting heads. But Rocky's dad has a really useful suggestion before the restaurant even opens. He thinks the teppanyaki idea is a little boring on its own. His vaudeville instincts are telling him that the restaurant needs some extra flair. So he tells Rocky to inject some showmanship into the cooking process. Rocky knows a good idea when he hears one, and he instructs his new chefs to clang knives, juggle shrimp, and tell jokes. Rocky names a restaurant Benihana in an homage to his dad, and the doors open in 1964. This is the year the Olympics are being held in Tokyo, so interest in Japanese culture is high. But starting a new restaurant is never easy, and it's especially hard when you're working against racist misconceptions. Can you read what Rocky later tells an interviewer about American restaurant audiences?

[Sachi Kol]

He says, quote, americans enjoy eating in exotic surroundings but are deeply mistrustful of exotic foods. 100% correct?

[Sarah Haggie]

Absolutely.

[Sachi Kol]

They want to eat something with chopsticks, but they want it to be fries.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yes, that is exactly it.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, for months, Benihana gets no traction and no respect. And Rocky's losing money like crazy. He can't afford to buy a liquor license or hire a proper staff. By this time, Rocky has married a family friend from home named Chizuru, who helps in lieu of actual employees. Rocky's mother and three brothers even fly in from Japan to work for him for free. The restaurant is Doing so poorly, they take on side gigs for extra cash. The situation is so depressing that one of his brothers literally goes back home after a week. With everyone in his family investing their time and money in the business, the stakes are high and the pressure is mounting. But this is the same Rocky who managed to make $10,000 selling soft serve ice cream in a single summer. He's not going to give up easily. Some nights he even sleeps on the bathroom floor so he can start work the next morning as early as possible. He's hustling as hard as he can, and while he doesn't know it yet, his hard work is going to pay off. Because Benihana is about to get the kind of boost most restaurant owners can only dream about. It's the spring of 1964, and Sachi, remember that rave review Rocky got in the New York Herald Tribune?

[Sachi Kol]

I do.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, it's just been published about six months into Benihana's existence and this single review literally changes everything. Suddenly, he's running one of the buzziest restaurants in New York City. Almost over. Rocky goes from serving 10 customers per dinner shift to turning people away at the door within two years. He opens a second location three blocks away. And he hires a Rolls Royce to take customers back and forth when each location fills up. Within a decade, Rocky's running nearly 20 Benihanas, raking in $12 million a year in profit. The restaurant chain is completely redefining Japanese American cuisine. And I mean that literally. Rocky claims he invented both green tea ice cream and the saketini during this period.

[Sachi Kol]

Okay, the stranglehold that the free scoop of green tea ice cream had over me at all those, like, weird Asian fusion restaurants that opened in Toronto. Everything Rocky did is forgiven. Because of the green tea ice cream?

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, yeah. I mean, if he invented it, definitely. I mean, and I believe him.

[Sachi Kol]

I do too.

[Sarah Haggie]

There is one downside to all the success. Rocky's dad feels overshadowed by his son. Their relationship is just as complicated as it was when Rocky was a rebellious teen. The two men are incredibly charming, business minded and a bit hot headed. When they get along, they're super close. But when they fight, it's vicious. It's a tough dynamic for any father and son. But it's even worse now that they're business partners. Even though Benihan is taking off, they get caught up in a feud over an unrelated business deal and never manage to resolve it. Buraki has his own fatherly duties to focus on now. By the late 70s, he and Chizuru have three kids. Kana, Grace, Kevin, and Steve. Yes. Sachi. That's Steve Aoki.

[Sachi Kol]

Okay, I did know this, that Steve Aoki's dad was the Benihana guy. Steve Aoki, who's a pretty famous dj. It also feels right that his dad would be the Benihana guy because Steve famously throws a cake into the crowd at every show he performs at. Which does feel spiritually related to throwing an egg into someone's mouth. Right.

[Sarah Haggie]

You are connecting dots. This episode that, like, I didn't know existed.

[Sachi Kol]

This is why they pay me the big bucks.

[Sarah Haggie]

No, truly, you're blowing my mind with that. I'm like, wow. And by now, Rocky settled down with his family in Englewood, New Jersey, a suburban town right outside of Manhattan. They live lavishly in a huge house with an indoor swimming pool and a Bentley that Rocky doesn't even have time to use because he's so busy traveling. Rocky may be a family man now, but he's not exactly a homebody. For the next decade, Rocky keeps busy. At one point, he opens a four story nightclub called Genesis. He loses 2 million doll on it and shuts the club down just one year later. Then he starts a porn magazine, also called Genesis. He gets really into competitive backgammon and starts doing a ton of cocaine. He produces a Broadway play and tries to buy a major league baseball team. He even starts a competitive speedboat race called the Benihana Grand Prix, which he also competes in. He gets into racing cars. And on top of all that, he also starts hot air ballooning.

[Sachi Kol]

I can't believe in that list of silly little hobbies you've listed, cocaine was the least embarrassing one.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah, and I will say that Genesis existed for, like, 30 years. He was in it for the love of the game. Like he kept print alive.

[Sachi Kol]

He really did. I guess another thing to admire about Steve Aoki's dad.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, Rocky's fueled by a combination of ambition, thrill seeking, and restlessness. But he's doing all of this for professional reasons, too. These stunts keep him and Benihana firmly in the public eye. His hot air balloons, race cars, and speedboats all have the word Benihana splashed across them in huge letters. And with every wild antic, the brand gets more publicity. Rocky used to be a scrappy entrepreneur who pasted his achievements on the side of his ice cream truck. Now he's a mogul doing the same thing on a much bigger scale. So far, Rocky's gotten everything he wants. Success. Plus all the thrills he's craved since he was a Rowdy, rebellious teenager. But he's about to hit a major bump in the road. And it's going to force him to slow down in a serious way. It's September 1979 in San Francisco, and 40 year old Rocky opens his eyes to find that he's in a hospital room. He's lying on a bed completely naked, and there are two women standing on either side of him. The last thing Rocky remembers is going really, really fast. He was competing in his own speedboat racing competition, the Benihana Grand Prix. On a windy day in the bay. He was going about 80 miles an hour near the Golden Gate Bridge when all of a sudden his boat fell apart underneath him and he got seriously hurt. He tore an aorta, broke his arm, shattered his leg, and his liver got sliced in half.

[Sachi Kol]

That is very gross.

[Sarah Haggie]

I know, it's cartoonish to think that could happen to someone. Well, Rocky was helicoptered to a hospital where doctors operated on him for more than 10 hours. He eventually learns that he was unconscious for three full days. But when he first opens his eyes, he's confronted with a totally different existential dilemma. The two women in the room with him, one of them is his wife, Chizuru, the mother of his three children. And the other is his mistress, a woman named Pamela Hillburger. She showed up to watch the race with her and Rocky's secret three year old son, Kyle. Rocky hasn't just been hiding an affair. He's got a whole ass second family.

[Sachi Kol]

Oh my God. An affair with a white woman. Death penalty.

[Sarah Haggie]

I knew you were gonna say that.

[Sachi Kol]

It's already bad. It's already bad to be a white woman. You can't be married to a woman named Chizuru and then have an affair with a woman named Pamela Hillburger.

[Sarah Haggie]

I know.

[Sachi Kol]

Please be serious.

[Sarah Haggie]

I know. Well, when Rocky realizes what's going on, he panics and pretends to black out again to buy himself some time. Rocky has a lot of mistresses, including a former Miss Iceland and a bunch of women he picked up at his nightclub. But Pamela is his main girlfriend. She gave birth to Kyle about two years ago, around the same time Chizuru had Steve. Chizuru, understandably, never gets over this betrayal. Rocky later tells a reporter that she was okay with him having a mistress. But the secret kid was a last straw. In 1981, two years after his accident, she and Rocky get a divorce. And later that same year, he marries Pamela. As Rocky's personal life gets more complicated, his business does too. And stay with me. This part is confusing, but it is important. As Benihana expands through the 80s, Rocky decides to separate it into two business entities so that he can raise more cash. So Benihana becomes two companies, Benihana of Tokyo, which owns 39 restaurants, and another called Benihana Inc. Which owns the other 11. He sells 49% of Benihana Inc. To the public and makes a bunch of money, but stays on as chairman of both companies for the next few years. Benihana keeps growing and Rocky keeps living his eccentric, mogul lifestyle. He and Pamela have two more kids together, Echo and Devin. Rocky's had the kind of success that most people dream about, but he still dreams of more. Here he is talking to a reporter a few years after he split Benihana in two. When asked if he's made it yet, Rocky says, no, no, not yet. No, never yet. I haven't scratched the surface yet. Every risk Rocky takes seems to work out well. So in 1993, when a friend comes to him with an insider tip about a stock he should buy, Rocky takes the advice. Why shouldn't he? It's an easy way to make some extra cash. And another win for a guy who just can't stop winning. But Rocky's about to learn that flying too close to the sun is a lot like touching a hot tabletop grill. You're likely to get burned.

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Payment of $45 for 3 month 5 gigabyte plan required equivalent to $15 a month new customer offer for first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com for details. I feel like a legend. It's 1993 and Rocky's personal life isn't going so great. He and Pamela got divorced a couple years prior, and to make matters worse, he's dealing with some health issues. He's got diabetes as well as hepatitis C. But what matters most to Rocky is his work. And that part of his life is still going really well. So Rocky decides to get a little experimental. He starts serving sushi at some of his restaurants, and he turns a portion of a Benihana in Miami into an art gallery full of Tiffany lamps and Remington bronze sculptures he expands into a line of frozen dinners. He even tries to sell a line of weight loss supplements called Rocky Aoki's Ultra Herbal Power Slim. Obviously, not all of these experiments are successful, but Rocky's a gambler. As long as Benihana's business keeps booming, he can afford to take these kinds of bets.

[Sachi Kol]

Something tells me that pretty soon he will not be able to make them.

[Sarah Haggie]

Sarah well, around this time In October of 1993, Rocky's approached by A businessman named Donald Kessler about an opportunity to make a little cash on the side. We don't know exactly how these two met, but Donald is what's called a stock promoter. Basically a salesman who helps companies peddle their stock to potential buyers. It's a job that walks a very fine line between social and shady. Donald shares a tip about a stock he thinks Rocky should buy. Now, Sachi, you and I both know how a story like this usually goes, but scamfluencers wasn't around back then. So Rocky doesn't see what's coming. He's more than happy to hear about this exciting opportunity. That's definitely not fraud.

[Sachi Kol]

I know Rocky is acting here as if he had no idea any of this was fraud. I don't totally buy that because he very clearly is a really successful business owner, and now he's gonna play stupid on how money works and how the stock market works. I don't know about that.

[Sarah Haggie]

I mean, some people are just dumb. Sashi. Yeah.

[Sachi Kol]

I just don't buy that he's dumb.

[Sarah Haggie]

No, I'm joking.

[Sachi Kol]

I guess I just don't think that he's actually that dumb. Too devious to be stupid. You know, you can't show your hand that much.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah, I mean, even if he didn't know, it's not really an excuse. Well, Donald tells Rocky that the then chairman of Apple is about to become the CEO of Spectrum Cable. It's not public knowledge yet, but Donald knows that once Spectrum makes the announcement, their shares are going to skyrocket. Rocky decides to use this tip from Donald to buy 200,000 shares. And the tip pays off. When Spectrum announces their new CEO, their stock rises by almost 50%. Rocky sells his shares and makes about $350,000 in profit. He pays Donald $10,000 for his help with the deal. But unfortunately, Rocky is about to lose more than this tip brought in. Because this one bad bet will cut him off from his fortune, his business empire, and worst of all, his family. It's the late 90s, a few years after Rocky bought those Spectrum shares under less than legit circumstances, and his life has been turned upside down. Even with his extreme sports accidents and his tangled web of affairs, Rocky has seemed untouchable. Until now. It turns out that Donald, the guy who gave Rocky that big stock tip, spent the early 90s giving insider trading advice to a lot of different people. And now he's under investigation by the government. In December of 1997, Donald pleads guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy to commit securities Fraud. As the feds dug deeper and deeper into Donald, and their investigation turned up many of the people who paid him for illegal trading tips, including Rocky. And in the summer of 1999, a federal grand jury indicts Rocky on six counts of insider trading and one count of conspiracy. He faces up to five years in prison and a nearly $2 million fine. In preparation for his sentencing, Rocky's lawyer tells him to give up all his positions at Benihana so the restaurant won't lose their liquor license. And Rocky follows this advice. He gets to stay on as a consultant, but he's not officially in charge of Benihana anymore. He also transfers his interest in Benihana of Tokyo to a trust that's the half of the company that controls most of their restaurants. Three of his six kids are the trustees, which means they now oversee most of his assets. In the end, Rocky pleads guilty to insider trading, but because of his health issues, the judge lets him avoid jail time. Instead, he just has to pay a $500,000 fine.

[Sachi Kol]

As you know, Sarah, I don't love jail, and I'm not pro prison, but it is sort of frustrating when you see these stories of, like, financial fraud and like, a rich person kind of gets a weird slap on the wrist. Like, even the businesses are still in his family's names, like they will continue to make money.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah, exactly. It just illuminates how some people are able to get away with things and, you know, other people never will.

[Sachi Kol]

Never will. Yeah.

[Sarah Haggie]

I mean, even when Rocky loses, he is still kind of winning. He committed a serious crime, and he's getting off pretty much consequence free. He can afford the fine, and his business is still in the hands of his family, but he's about to get caught up in a brand new relationship that will change everything in his life, for better and for worse. It's 2001, and Keiko Ono is chatting with Rocky at a party. Keiko's a former Miss Tokyo runner up with long hair, high cheekbones, and charisma to burn. She's tiny, energetic, and big into astrology. For years, she's been making her way through the business world in a whirlwind of success and chaos. In the 80s, she was a secretary for a Japanese politician, and at some point, they started up an affair. In 1988, Keiko moved to New York to start a luxury imports business. Two years later, she brought the politician on board as a business partner, and they rekindled their relationship. But pretty soon, things between them went south. They broke up, which began A huge legal battle over their company. The whole thing ended with Keiko leaving the business and suing her former partner, who settled with her out of court. That's when Keiko starts a new company, A consultancy where she tells corporations how to win business in Asia. She starts working with big names like Wonderbra, Starwood Hotels, and, of course, Benihana. Keiko and Rocky get really close really fast. They stay pretty private about their relationship, so we don't know too much about the courtship phase. But it's not hard to imagine why they found each other so compelling. Between their business ambitions and their dramatic past, they're a match made in heaven. But in the Y2K era, the man Keiko falls in love with isn't a fast living, hard partying mogul anymore. Rocky's only 63 years old, but his health just keeps getting worse. He's still suffering from diabetes and hepatitis C, and now he's got liver disease as well. For the first time in his life, he's really slowing down. But Keiko jumps into the task of taking care of Rocky. She decorates a new minimalist apartment for them in a fancy building in midtown. And she makes sure he's healthy enough for his weekly backgammon game. Keiko and Rocky are head over heels in love. Rocky tells a reporter, quote, I would be dead without her.

[Sachi Kol]

I do think that's probably true.

[Sarah Haggie]

I mean, I think it's true for most marriages. Yeah.

[Sachi Kol]

Honestly, most men would be dead without their wives.

[Sarah Haggie]

So in 2002, less than a year into their relationship, Keiko and Rocky get married at City hall on a date chosen by Keiko's astrologer. It's a happy day for them, but they decide to not tell either of their families about their wedding until it's over. When Keiko and Rocky first got together, the Aoki children seemed cautiously optimistic. Kana even said she was happy her father had found love again. But as their relationship progressed, Rocky's kids started worrying that Keiko was influencing his life too much. Hence the whole secret wedding. If Rocky's kids have anything negative to say about his marriage, he and Keiko don't want it getting in the way of their big day. But hiding their wedding will have consequences that reverberate in the family and across every Benihana franchise for decades to come. It's 2002 at a ritzy Italian restaurant in the West Village. Vintage light fixtures cast a warm glow over a small dining room. The two eldest Aoki kids, Kana and Kevin, are sitting at one of the restaurant's small tables, staring at their father and his brand new wife, Keiko. The happy couple invited them here to clear the air after their surprise wedding. But the Aoki heirs have something else in mind. Over dessert, Kanna presents Keiko with an untraditional wedding gift. A post nup. It renounces any stake she might have in Benihana. As you might imagine, Keiko refuses to sign it. While this fight is happening, Rocky just sits there eating silently. The whole scene is incredibly awkward for everyone. It is crazy to think you're gonna.

[Sachi Kol]

Present a postnup to your very wealthy father's weird new wife, and she would be like, word, Yeah.

[Sarah Haggie]

I mean, I think these kids definitely see themselves as far more powerful than they are.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah.

[Sarah Haggie]

At this point, the Aoki children are all grown up. Kevin is 35, and Kana is 36. And despite, or maybe because of their tumultuous upbringing, the siblings are all pretty close. Rocky may have made some mistakes as a father, but he always made sure his kids spent quality time together. By now, some of the younger Aokis have started to make their way in the world through several usual Nepo baby channels. Devin is a model actress who famously appears in the Fast and Furious franchise and who also dates Lenny Kravitz. And Steve owns a record label. He's also been DJing under the name Kid Millionaire, which he claims is a joke about the fact that he actually doesn't have money from his father. On the other hand, Steve's brother Kevin wants to work in the restaurant business like his dad. He's currently serving on Benihana's board. Each of Rocky's kids inherited a little bit of their dad's personality. Steve is rambunctious and extroverted, while Kevin and Devin both share his head for business. When they're all together, they repeat Rocky's favorite joke like a mantra. Money isn't everything.

[Sachi Kol]

Just 99% great dad joke lands really poorly considering what's happening to this family.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, I mean, low key, true. Considering what's happening to this family.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah, maybe that's why I don't like it. Okay. It works.

[Sarah Haggie]

The Aoki kids actually take this motto pretty seriously because they have a vested interest in keeping their father's multimillion dollar empire thriving. After all, building up this chain of restaurants has been Rocky's singular focus for their entire lives. So when they hear that their dad has gotten secretly married to a woman he's known for mere months, they freak out. The kids have been noticing the impact Keiko's having on their father. Even though his health is stable, they barely see him anymore. Steve will later tell a reporter that he thinks this is a direct result of Keiko's influence. In Keiko's opinion, she doesn't need their approval. Sachi, can you read what she later tells a reporter about their dynamic?

[Sachi Kol]

Of course the wife influences the husband. The husband influences the wife. That's why I got married. But it's not putting a gun to a head. That's not the relationship we had. I mean, this is how marriage works. This is what happens to married couples.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yes, and as long as Rocky's happy, Keiko is too. And it seems like he really is. But by the end of this dinner, nobody's happy. And after this, Kana and Kevin are furious that they can't get through to their father. They see Keiko as an obstacle standing between them and Rocky, not to mention his estate. They're ready to fight for what they think is theirs. But as this battle heats up, it's clear that it'll be long and bitter and cost them more than just millions of dollars in legal fees. As it starts getting hotter, do you feel that familiar urge to refresh your wardrobe? It's tempting to buy trendy pieces, but here's the thing. You'll probably only end up wearing them for one season.

[Sachi Kol]

That's true. But it's not the case with quints. Their clothes are timeless, lightweight, and way more elevated than anything else at their.

[Sarah Haggie]

Price point, like 100% European linen shorts and dresses from $30 Luxe Swimwear or Italian leather platform sandals. And everything with quints is half the cost of similar brands.

[Sachi Kol]

Sarah the other day I was walking down the street and I saw a woman wearing one of the dresses that I have from Quint's. And we looked great. We both looked amazing and we both looked comfortable. And I loved that we both got it for way cheaper than I think it prob probably is worth.

[Sarah Haggie]

You guys made eye contact and you both knew yes.

[Sachi Kol]

We nodded.

[Sarah Haggie]

You both knew yes. Give your summer closet an upgrade with quince. Go to quince.com scanpod for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns.

[Sachi Kol]

That's Q U I-N-C-E.com scampod to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com scampod you know those creepy stories.

[TJ Raphael]

That give you goosebumps? The ones that make you really question what's real? Well, what if I told you that some of the strangest, dark and most mysterious stories are not found in haunted houses or abandoned forests, but instead in hospital rooms and doctor's offices. Hi, I'm Mr. Ballin, the host of Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries, and each week on my podcast you can expect to hear stories about bizarre illnesses no one can explain, miraculous recoveries that shouldn't have happened, and cases so baffling they stumped even the best doctors. So if you crave totally true and and thoroughly twisted horror stories and mysteries, Mr. Ballin's medical mysteries should be your new go to weekly show. Listen to Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad free right now by joining Wondery in the Wondery app or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

[Sarah Haggie]

I feel like a legend. In 2002, after Keiko refuses to sign the postnup, tension in the Aoki family reaches an all time high. Rocky will later claim that in this period, Kevin even hires a private detective to dig up dirt on Keiko. It's extreme, but to Kevin, the question of who's in charge of his dad's estate feels particularly urgent. Rocky's only 65, but his health keeps declining and it's not clear how much time they have left to sort things out. Kevin gets his siblings together alongside Rocky's lawyer. They draft a document that would give them irrevocable control of the trust. Rocky signs it, but almost immediately after, he changes his mind and says he didn't understand what he was signing. And then he starts revising his will. This is where things start to get really messy. The first change, in 2003 gives Keiko 75% control over his assets. He later says he hoped this would make his kids, quote, realize that making peace with her would be the best possible course of action and would bring everyone together.

[Sachi Kol]

I can't think of a worse plan to bring everybody together than giving your wife 75% control over your assets. You've known her for just a little while.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, yes, Sachi. Obviously this doesn't work. Instead, the kids watch in horror as Rocky keeps revising his will. He changes it three more times and hands over more of his estate to Keiko each revision. His kids are getting the message. If they don't get on board with their dad's new partner, they might be cut out altogether. But as it turns out, it's not just the Aoki children who are nervous about Keiko's influence. In 2004, Benihana's board grows concerned about the possibility of her Owning the company. Kevin, who's on the board, plays a part in their next decision. The board issues new stock, which shrinks the Aoki family's stake in the company. This means Keiko's potential power over the whole enterprise is reduced, but it also lowers the value of the company. Rocky is pissed, especially at his oldest son. Kevin's supposed to be helping the company grow, not devaluing it. By 2006, Kevin isn't the only Aoki whose relationship with their dad is suffering. Devin and DJ Steve are making their own money, so they've managed to keep some distance from the fight over the business. But the other four kids, Kevin, Kana, Kyle, and Echo, are deep into this legal battle. In 2006, Rocky disinherits them, seeks to have them removed as trustees, and stops speaking to them entirely. He even files a lawsuit against them, saying they're trying to wrest control of the company from him just because they hate his wife. There's one more truly brutal detail in all of this. Since Rocky is technically a consultant at Benihana, he doesn't get paid by the company directly. So he's pulling money from the Benihana of Tokyo Trust. At this point, that's his main source of income. Before all this petty legal back and forth, he would simply call up one of his kids and ask them to withdraw some cash for him. But now it's way more fraud. At one point, he asks if they can send him $1.5 million, and they send him $150,000 instead. Well, he starts selling things off, like his beloved $5 million townhouse full of expensive art and souvenirs from his long, wild life. And all this legal drama keeps making Rocky sicker and sadder. He just wants everyone he loves to get along. In 2006, Rocky talks to a reporter from New York Magazine about the situation. Saatchi, can you read what he tells them?

[Sachi Kol]

He says, I want to help my kids, but I want my children to crawl, to walk, then run on their own. Then I help them, but they can't even crawl. They just collect money and do nothing. What else do they want? Can't wait till I'm dead. Oh, God. I mean, true, but also, you built them that way.

[Sarah Haggie]

I know. I mean, if your family motto is.

[Sachi Kol]

Jokingly like, money isn't everything, except it is.

[Sarah Haggie]

It's just 99%. What do you think? You instilled in them, right?

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah.

[Sarah Haggie]

But it turns out death isn't as far away as he thinks. In 2007, Rocky is diagnosed with liver Cancer. And he doesn't have long to live. His six kids might lose their father while in the middle of a huge legal battle. And the question of who actually owns Benihana is suddenly more important than ever. It's October of 2007, five years since Keiko and Rocky got married and the family started their feud. But today, their battle is on pause. Rocky, Keiko, most of his kids, and two of his grandchildren are all gathered together. And this time, they're not in a courtroom or in front of a reporter. Instead, they're in the private room at the back of an Indian restaurant in in New York city. It's Rocky's 69th birthday, and they're all here to celebrate him. The kids sing songs, read cards, and reminisce about their childhood. It's a bright spot in the darkness that's taken over the family for the last five years. Nobody talks about the trust or the lawsuits. They just get to be together. Through all the lawsuits and paperwork, Rocky's been wanting to make peace with his kids. It's safe to assume that he's been thinking about his own father as he stares down his own mortality. The two of them were still feuding bitterly over the original Benihana, right up until the months before his father's death. Sachi, can you read this quote Rocky gave to a biographer about their relationship?

[Sachi Kol]

He said, quote, I never had the chance to tell my father some of the things I wanted to. Something like, well, I might have been wrong sometimes, and my father never admitted that he had done anything wrong. But as I think about it, maybe I never gave him the chance. Oh, boy. This is real end of life stuff.

[Sarah Haggie]

That is stuff you genuinely just, like, don't really want to think about.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah, well, you don't think about it until it's too late.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah, well, less than a year later, In July of 2008, Rocky dies of liver cancer, just like his father did 29 years earlier. Unfortunately, whatever closure his kids might have gotten at that last birthday dinner is about to evaporate. The battle between his surviving family members is back on. And with Rocky gone, Keiko is determined to carry on his legacy at any cost. On a summer evening in 2008, a week after Rocky's death, the Aoki family files into a funeral chapel on the Upper east side. The ceremony is private, though news of Rocky's death has New York buzzing. Page Six even followed Devin into Bergdorf Goodman a few days earlier as she shopped for a black dress and dark sunglasses. Right after Rocky's death, a Family spokesperson issued a statement to the public telling the world that his six kids and Keiko, quote, all made peace with him at his bedside. Buraki's death doesn't reduce the tension between his widow and his kids. In fact, it just makes everything worse. Remember, Benihana is still split into two separate companies. There's Benihana of Tokyo, which owns some of the restaurants as well as the trust. And then there's Benihana Inc. Which owns the rest. The split was already complicated when Rocky gave up control of both companies. But now that he's gone, things are about to get even messier. The rules of the trust clearly state that it will be dissolved once Rocky dies. This means his kids completely lose access to the company overnight. They lose any sway they had over Benihana's finances. Meanwhile, thanks to all the changes Rocky made to his will, Keiko is the sole heiress to his estate. In 2010, two years after Rocky's death, Keiko declares herself the CEO of Benihana of Tokyo. And right away, she starts making changes to the business, claiming she's only following in her ex husband's footsteps. And just like Rocky used to, Keiko tries new things. In an attempt to boost Benihana's profile. She opens up new locations around the world and adds something called the Benny Burger to the menu. She brings in hip hop dancers called the Benny Girls to spice things up at the Benihana locations she controls. And Sachi, before you ask, yes, I do have a YouTube video of one of these dance performances for us to watch together.

[Sachi Kol]

Sarah, as you know, I think it is embarrassing when people dance. I think it's especially embarrassing to dance wearing a chef's hat and holding a spatula. And that is what they are doing here. It's bad.

[Sarah Haggie]

While also wearing some pretty cool ripped.

[Sachi Kol]

Jeans while they slowly undress over the course of the video things, they eventually are wearing T shirt and ripped jeans. And then they make everybody else dance with them. And it is brutal. This is a brutalizing watch and I resent you for making me look at it.

[Sarah Haggie]

Well, we're gonna learn the dance. But also remember, there are two companies that control the brand. Keiko may be the CEO of Benihana of Tokyo, but Benihana Inc. The other company still has control over the other Benihana franchises. In 2012, that company gets bought out by an investment firm for $296 million. The firm approaches Keiko to see if she'll sell her company, but of course, she refuses. From there, things just get pettier. And Pettier, Keiko, the kids and Benihana, Inc. Start throwing lawsuits back and forth like confetti. They sue each other over whether Keiko can serve garlic butter on her Benny burger. They sue over the look of their websites and the best way for Benihana chefs to bank salt and pepper shakers together. And of course, they sue each other over whether the Benny Girls cheapen the brand's image.

[Sachi Kol]

Oh, boy, they do. There is no doubt about that.

[Sarah Haggie]

I mean, who doesn't love a little song and dance, you know? Well, at this point, there are so many lawsuits that it takes years for the courts to sort through them all. In 2014, a judge awards Steve and Devin the Benihana of Tokyo Trust. Since they're the only two kids Rocky never disinherited, each of them gets 50% of the trust, though they have to wait until they turn 45 to access it. In November 2022, on his 45th birthday, Steve inherited his share. Though since he already added a foam pit and a pool to his $2.7 million house, he didn't really seem to need it. But things in the Aoki family are still simmering. As of March 2024, a judge denied the kid's motion to remove Keiko as a trustee from the trust. Turns out when you build a business on onion volcanoes, some things never stop erupting. Sachi, clearly the downfall of all this was Rocky either being swindled by a scam or intentionally scamming. Who can really say? But do you think this type of fallout would have been inevitable even if he hadn't gone through all that as far as a scam goes, and having to, like, leave his company in a certain respect?

[Sachi Kol]

I don't know. Maybe it seems like he was building an unstable empire even amongst his children, like, I don't know. But the only thing illegal that he did was the insider trading, Right?

[Sarah Haggie]

That we know of. Yeah, Right.

[Sachi Kol]

I don't know. It feels a little like a family where it was inevitable that they were gonna have this big fight. I mean, money is bad for people. It's really bad for people.

[Sarah Haggie]

Not me. If I had it, that would never happen.

[Sachi Kol]

You have enough.

[Sarah Haggie]

You know, I also do think one thing we focus on is how he did insider trading. He got caught. He could have gone to prison and paid a ton of money, but he gets off relatively easily. But ultimately he kind of doesn't because his life does implode.

[Sachi Kol]

He dies young.

[Sarah Haggie]

He dies relatively young. And it's almost like this weird consequence of living this fast life where he was like, more, more, more, more, more.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah.

[Sarah Haggie]

You famously have many stances on marriage.

[Sachi Kol]

Mm.

[Sarah Haggie]

Hearing stories like this, like, what do you glean outside of no one should get married. Everyone should be divorced. But, like, what do you take away from something like this?

[Sachi Kol]

I mean, I don't think there's anything good that will come out of a second, third, or fourth marriage, certainly. I guess I just don't buy that Keiko is, like, an evil force. I think he probably didn't talk enough to his kids, but I don't know.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah. I mean, in so many situations, even like, just real life, hearing someone talk about a stepparent or someone their parent marries, it's always like this, like, enormous amount of blame on the person who enters their family. Like, she changed everything. And it's like, listen, this isn't a value judgment on Keiko, whether or not she influenced him or not. But, like, we are talking about, like, a man who's made many bad choices, who's capable of doing any sort of crazy thing. A guy who had his secret mistress, you know, watch him at his, like, weird boat show. You know what I mean?

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah. He wasn't, like, above board before. And now these kids are sort of acting as if it's just because of this new marriage that their dad is acting unethically. And it's like he's actually been doing it for a minute. I mean, I don't know. If my dad had a whole second family. I also probably wouldn't trust him with the business either.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah. Just don't really know if Keiko is like, this evil genius. I think she was kind of just smart and gave him what seems to be a pretty good end of life as someone who was quite ill and in a lot of pain. Right.

[Sachi Kol]

Yeah. I mean, the tricky thing with these sorts of, like, family dynasty things is that the kids sometimes have an expectation that the business should and will go to them. But, like, nothing is owed to you. Even if your dad owns a business or whatever, he has money. Like, it doesn't necessarily mean it will go to you just because you are the child. And it doesn't mean that he wanted it to. I mean, the story is really a testament to why you should leave very clear instructions after you die. Everybody should have a will.

[Sarah Haggie]

What's some fun stuff you'd put in your will?

[Sachi Kol]

You know, what would I put in my will? I would make sure someone trustworthy took my cat. And then I would tell all of you guys to fight for the death over my journals, which feature many unsavory and characteristically unkind things about lots of people. And whoever wins them gets to do whatever they want with them and they will be profitable.

[Sarah Haggie]

Okay. And do you give me permission to use your voice for future kind of AI type things so I can get you to say whatever I want? Like, can I have that?

[Sachi Kol]

I assume you're already doing that now.

[Sarah Haggie]

Amazing. That's all I wanted. I'm just gonna have you say really nice things to me.

[Sachi Kol]

It's an interesting use of. Of so much power.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah, like, great job, Sarah. I always believed in you.

[Sachi Kol]

No one would believe you. Loving Scamflancers get exclusive episodes and early access to new ones. All ad free on Wondry Plus Join now in the Wondry app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Before you go, help us out by taking a quick [e-mail] survey.

[Sarah Haggie]

This is Rocky Aoki. Hibachi's a bitch and Then youn Die. I'm Sarah Hagie.

[Sachi Kol]

And I'm Sachi Cole. If you have a tip for us on a story that you think we should cover, please email [e-mail] we use many sources in our research. A few that were particularly helpful were the Crazy Bitter Battle Over Betty Hanna by Erica Fry in Fortune magazine, Rocky's Family Horror Shows by Logan Hill in New York magazine, and A Flower in the Debris by Mayuk Sen in the Ringer.

[Sarah Haggie]

Emma Healy wrote this episode. Additional writing by us, Sachi Kol and Sarah Hagie. Olivia Briley is our story editor. Fact checking by Lexi Pirie. Sound design by James Morgan. Additional audio assistance provided by Augustine Lim. Our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. For freesound Sync. Our managing producer is Desi Blaylock. Our senior managing producer is Callum Plews. Janine Cornello and Stephanie Jens are our development producers. Our associate producer is Charlotte Miller. Our producer is Julie McGruder. Our senior producers are Sarah Enny and Ginny Blume. Our executive producers are Jenny Lauer, Beckman Marshall Louie and Erin o' Flaherty. For Wondery.

[TJ Raphael]

Behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, there are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. From COVID experiments pushing the boundaries of science to operations so secretive they were barely whispered about. Each week on Redacted Declassified Mysteries, we pull back the curtain on these hidden histories. 100% true and very verifiable stories that expose the shadowy underbelly of power. Consider Operation Paperclip, where former Nazi scientists were brought to America after World War II not as prisoners, but as assets to advance US intelligence during the Cold War. These aren't just old conspiracy theories. They're thoroughly investigated accounts that reveal the uncomfortable truths still shaping our world today. The stories are real. The secrets are shocking. Follow Declassified Mysteries on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts you can listen to redacted early and ad free right now on Wondery Plus.