<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950144-04-009268
<TYPE>DFAN14A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<FILING-DATE>20040922
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20040922
<EFFECTIVENESS-DATE>20040922
<FILED-BY>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BENIHANA OF TOKYO INC
<CIK>0001265915
<IRS-NUMBER>000000000
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>DFAN14A
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>BENIHANA INC
<STREET2>8685 NW 53 TERRACE STE 201
<CITY>MIAMI
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33166
<PHONE>305 593 0770
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</FILED-BY>
<SUBJECT-COMPANY>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BENIHANA INC
<CIK>0000935226
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5812
<IRS-NUMBER>650538630
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0328
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>DFAN14A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26396
<FILM-NUMBER>041040858
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
<CITY>MIAMI
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33166
<PHONE>3055930770
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
<CITY>MIAMI
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33166
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</SUBJECT-COMPANY>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DFAN14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>g91045dfan14a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>BENIHANA OF TOKYO/BENIHANA INC.
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Benihana of Tokyo/Benihana Inc.</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV align="center">
<B><FONT size="2">UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</FONT></B>
</DIV>

<P align="center">
<B><FONT size="2">SCHEDULE 14A<BR>
(Rule 14a-101)</FONT></B>


<P align="center">
<B><FONT size="2">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT<BR>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION</FONT></B>


<P align="center">
<FONT size="2">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities</FONT>

<DIV align="center">
<FONT size="2">Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;)</FONT>
</DIV>

<P align="left">
<FONT size="2">Filed by the Registrant&nbsp;
<FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</FONT>

<P align="left">
<FONT size="2">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant&nbsp;
<FONT face="wingdings">&#120;</FONT>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">
Check the appropriate box:
</font>

<CENTER>
<TABLE width="100%" align="center" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="49%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD width="48%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR>
        <TD align="left" valign="top">

<FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary
Proxy Statement</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top">
        <DIV style="margin-left:10px; text-indent:-10px">
        <FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&nbsp;</FONT>&nbsp;
        </FONT></DIV>
        </TD>
</TR>


<TR>
        <TD colspan="3" align="left" valign="top">

<FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</FONT></TD>
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top">
        <DIV style="margin-left:10px; text-indent:-10px">
        <FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&nbsp;</FONT>&nbsp;
        </FONT></DIV>
        </TD>
</TR>

<TR>
        <TD colspan="3" align="left" valign="top">
        <FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;Definitive
        Proxy Statement
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR>
        <TD colspan="3" align="left" valign="top">
        <FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#120;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;Definitive
        Additional Materials
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR>
        <TD colspan="3" align="left" valign="top">
        <FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting
        Material Pursuant to &#167;240.14a-12
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>

<P align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>


<DIV align="center"><FONT size="3"><B>Benihana Inc.</B></FONT>
<HR size="1" width="100%" align="left" noshade>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<FONT size="2">(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
</FONT>
</DIV>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">Benihana of Tokyo, Inc.<BR>
Benihana Protective Trust dated June&nbsp;8, 1998</FONT>


<DIV align="left">
<HR size="1" width="100%" align="left" noshade>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<FONT size="2">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant)
</FONT>
</DIV>

<P align="left">
<FONT size="2">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
</FONT>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="4%"></TD>
        <TD width="96%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#120;</FONT></FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">No fee required.
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR>
        <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
        Rules&nbsp;14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Title of each class of securities to which
        transaction applies:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Aggregate number of securities to which
        transaction applies:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Per unit price or other underlying value of
        transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule&nbsp;0-11
        (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
        state how it was determined):
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(5)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Total fee paid:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="4%"></TD>
        <TD width="96%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
        <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2"><FONT face="wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
        provided by Exchange Act Rule&nbsp; 0-11(a)(2) and identify the
        filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.
        Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
        or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Amount Previously Paid:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Filing Party:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>
<P>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<TR>
        <TD width="9%"></TD>
        <TD width="91%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
        <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4)</FONT></TD>
        <TD align="left">
        <FONT size="2">Date Filed:
        </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="right">
<HR size="1" width="91%" align="right" noshade>



<P align="left"><FONT size="2">The following materials may be used by representatives of the Benihana of
Tokyo, Inc. (&#147;BOT&#148;) in discussions with stockholders of Benihana Inc. (the
&#147;Company&#148;), in connection with BOT&#146;s current solicitation of proxies for the
Company&#146;s 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, scheduled for September&nbsp;28,
2004. Accordingly, BOT is filing the following materials as definitive
additional proxy materials pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.</FONT>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<P align="left" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</B>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="69%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="24%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>CONTACT:</B>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B>Arthur B. Crozier<BR>
Innisfree M&#038;A Incorporated<BR>
212-750-5837</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>OPPOSITION GROUP URGES COMMON STOCKHOLDERS OF BENIHANA INC. (NASDAQ: BNHN) TO
VOTE BLUE PROXY CARD</B>



<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">NEW YORK, September&nbsp;22, 2004<B>..... </B>Benihana of Tokyo, Inc. released the
following letter to common stockholders of Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHN)
today.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">BENIHANA OF TOKYO, INC.



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">September&nbsp;22, 2004



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Dear Fellow Stockholder:



<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">The September&nbsp;28, 2004 Annual Meeting is fast approaching. We ask you to
join our efforts to install oversight and to restore accountability and
trust to the Benihana Board by voting <B>FOR </B>the election of our nominees,
Lewis Jaffe and Kevin Y. Aoki.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>THE BOARD OF BENIHANA INC. JUST DOESN&#146;T GET IT!</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>THE REAL ISSUE IN THIS CONTEST IS BOARD INDEPENDENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.</B>



<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">Despite management&#146;s recent overwrought letter to you, this contest is <U>not</U>
about control by Rocky Aoki. This contest is about having a truly
independent board accountable to ALL stockholders.


<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">Our independent director nominee, Lewis Jaffe, who has no ties to any of the
existing directors and who has never met any of the Aokis, will bring a much
needed fresh perspective to the Benihana Board in order to ensure
accountability. Lewis Jaffe has solid public company Board experience as
well as operating experience. He was introduced to this situation by
Providence Capital, Inc., Benihana of Tokyo&#146;s financial advisor. By
contrast, Benihana&#146;s nominee, Yoshihiro Sano, is a partner in The Dorsan
Group along with the CEO, Joel Schwartz and General Counsel, Darwin Dornbush
of Benihana Inc.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>WE&#146;RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO BELIEVE THAT BENIHANA INC. DOESN&#146;T GET IT!</B>



<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">Institutional Shareholder Services (&#147;ISS&#148;), the leading provider of
independent proxy voting advice to institutional investors around the world,
has recommended that its clients holding Benihana Inc. Common Stock vote the
<B>BLUE </B>proxy card for Lewis Jaffe and Kevin Aoki.


<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">ISS based its recommendation largely on concerns about the recent $20
million financing transaction with BFC Financial. The ISS recommendation
stated: &#147;In ISS&#146;s view the financing transaction with BFC is not
shareholder friendly. In fact, we note the following: conflict of
interests, no compelling need for financing, toxic features such as granting
veto rights to preferred shareholders on non ordinary business events, and a
process that critics would argue failed to seek out additional investor
alternatives.&#148;


<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">More importantly, ISS also concluded, &#147;We believe that adding an independent
director not related to existing members of the board and the BFC financing
decision can provide an alternative viewpoint and enhance accountability to
shareholders.&#148;


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>AN INDEPENDENT, CONFLICT-FREE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS.</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>THE CHOICE IS CLEAR. VOTE THE BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY.</B>



<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">Join us in our efforts to restore Board accountability and trust. Please
sign, date and return the <B>BLUE </B>proxy card with a vote <B>FOR </B>Benihana of
Tokyo&#146;s slate of nominees.


<P align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; text-indent: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt">If you have any questions, or require any assistance in voting your shares,
please call our proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&#038;A Incorporated, toll-free, at
1-888-750-5834.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Very Truly Yours,



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Benihana of Tokyo, Inc.




<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
