The story of Benihana had its roots in Japan right after the war. At that time, Yunosuke Aoki, (Yoo-OOH-No-Soo-Kay Ah-OH-Kee), a samurai descendant and a popular Japanese entertainer together with his wife Katsu (KAHT-Soo), opened a small coffee shop in Tokyo. A red safflower, found in the neighborhood streets gave the Aoki's the inspiration for the restaurant's name —Benihana— which in Japanese means "red flower."