<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950144-04-009397
<TYPE>DFAN14A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<FILING-DATE>20040928
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20040928
<EFFECTIVENESS-DATE>20040928
<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>041049956
</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>
<FILED-BY>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BENIHANA OF TOKYO INC
<CIK>0001265915
<IRS-NUMBER>131998703
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0331
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>DFAN14A
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>232 EAST 63RD STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10021
<PHONE>305 789-7639
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP, RODNEY BELL
<STREET2>701 BRICKELL AVE, SUITE 3000
<CITY>MIAMI
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33131
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILED-BY>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DFAN14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>g91082a1dfan14a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>BENIHANA, INC.
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Benihana, Inc.</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
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<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>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SCHEDULE 14A<BR>
(Rule&nbsp;14a-101)</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT<BR>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section&nbsp;14(a) of the Securities<BR>
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Filed by the Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
<BR>
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<font face="wingdings">&#254;</font>
<BR>
Check the appropriate box:

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Preliminary Proxy Statement</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule&nbsp;14a-6(e)(2))</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Definitive Proxy Statement</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#254;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Definitive Additional Materials</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Soliciting Material Pursuant to &#167; 240.14a-12</TD>
</TR>

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



<P align="center" style="font-size: 16pt"><B>Benihana Inc.</B>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Name of Registrant
as Specified In Its Charter)</div>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Benihana of Tokyo, Inc.<BR>
Benihana Protective Trust dated June&nbsp;8, 1998



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#254;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">No fee required.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules&nbsp;14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.</TD>
</TR>

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



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule&nbsp;0-11 (set<br>forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(4)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(5)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Total fee paid:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><font face="wingdings">&#111;</font>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">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.</TD>
</TR>

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



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Amount Previously Paid:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Filing Party:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(4)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Date Filed:</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><HR noshade size="1" width="80%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">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.




<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">
</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">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="100%"></TD>
    <TD width="5%"></TD>
    <TD width="100%"></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top"><B>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<BR>
Contact: Arthur B. Crozier<BR>
212-750-5833</B></TD>
</TR>

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



<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>BENIHANA OF TOKYO ANNOUNCES ITS DISSIDENT SLATE ELECTED AT BENIHANA INC<BR>
(NASDAQ: BNHN) ANNUAL MEETING</B>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>New York, September&nbsp;28, 2004. </B>Benihana of Tokyo, Inc. (BOT)&nbsp;announced today
that preliminary results show that its slate of nominees, Kevin Aoki and Lewis
Jaffe, were elected at today&#146;s contested Annual Meeting of Benihana, Inc.
(NASDAQ: BNHN) stockholders by a substantial margin. BOT&#146;s nominees opposed a
slate nominated by management.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Lewis Jaffe commented, &#147;I am gratified by the support provided by Benihana
stockholders to my and Kevin&#146;s candidacy. We thank the stockholders and commit
to them that we will work as hard as we can to restore shareholder value and to
ensure that the company is run for the benefit of all stockholders. We look
forward to working with the other Board members and management in achieving
those goals.&#148;


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Final results are expected to be released by the end of this week.



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>###</B>




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


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</SUBMISSION>
