Steve Aoki didn't build his empire in a vacuum. Born into an extraordinary household shaped by ambition, entertainment, and culinary legacy, the Grammy-nominated DJ shares his lineage with a diverse group of brothers and sisters. Their father, Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki, founded the iconic Benihana restaurant chain, setting a high bar for achievement that his children pursued across fashion, food, and music.
The Aoki family tree spans two biological siblings and four half-siblings. While Steve commands the global electronic dance music scene, his siblings carve out their own spaces in modeling, culinary arts, and private lives. Let's look at who they are, what they do, and how they fit into the broader Aoki family story.
The Rocky Aoki Legacy
To understand the siblings, you have to look at the patriarch. Rocky Aoki was an Olympic wrestler, a daredevil, and an entrepreneurial force who built Benihana into a cultural phenomenon across America. His drive for spectacle, performance, and risk-taking clearly passed down to his children.
Rocky married three times and had seven children in total. This blended family structure created a wide generational spread among the siblings, ranging from business operators to prominent fashion icons.
The Biological Siblings: Kana and Kevin
Steve is one of three children born to Rocky Aoki and his first wife, Chizuru Kobayashi.
Kana Grace Nootenboom
Born in 1968, Kana Grace Nootenboom is Steve's older sister. Unlike her famous brothers, Kana chooses a life far away from the spotlight. Very few public details exist regarding her career or personal life, as she maintains strict privacy. She occasionally appears in family histories or biographies, but she operates completely outside the entertainment industry.
Kevin Aoki
Born on November 27, Kevin Aoki is Steve's only biological brother. Kevin leans directly into the family's culinary roots, establishing himself as a successful restaurateur.
The brothers even teamed up professionally, launching ventures together like the chicken yakitori spot Kuru Kuru Pa at Resorts World Las Vegas. While Steve brings the loud, high-energy performance style inherited from their father's love of spectacle, Kevin handles the operational discipline required to run brick-and-mortar hospitality businesses. Kevin stays relatively low-profile compared to Steve, focusing heavily on his craft rather than social media fame.
The Half-Siblings: Devon and the Rest
Rocky Aoki's subsequent marriages and relationships brought four half-siblings into Steve's life: Devon, Echo, Jenifer, and Kyle.
Devon Aoki
By far the most globally recognized sibling alongside Steve is Devon Aoki, born on August 10, 1982. Devon is a legendary fashion model and actress who captured the global imagination in the late 1990s and 2000s.
Standing out with her striking, unique features, she became a muse for major design houses like Chanel, Versace, and Karl Lagerfeld. Transitioning to the silver screen, she starred in high-profile action films like 2 Fast 2 Furious and Sin City.
Despite her intense early fame, Devon stepped back from heavy Hollywood scheduling to focus on raising her four children with her husband, James Bailey. She and Steve share a close bond, occasionally co-chairing high-profile charity events like the Red Cross Gala.
Echo V., Jenifer, and Kyle
The remaining half-siblings—Echo V. Aoki, Jenifer Crumb, and Kyle N. Aoki—maintain private lives away from mass media. Little public information is available regarding their specific professional paths, as they do not participate in the celebrity ecosystem. They represent the quieter side of a famously loud, high-achieving family.
Shared Traits Across the Aoki Generation
What links this group together is an underlying work ethic. Whether building a global DJ brand, walking elite Paris runways, or running hospitality operations, the children of Rocky Aoki inherited a relentless drive.
Steve often highlights in interviews how his father's immigrant story and entrepreneurial hustle shaped his own mentality. You can read more about Steve's personal reflection on his upbringing in his memoir, Blue: The Color of Noise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many siblings does Steve Aoki have?
Steve Aoki has six siblings in total: two biological siblings (Kana and Kevin) and four half-siblings (Devon, Echo, Jenifer, and Kyle).
Who is more famous, Steve or Devon Aoki?
Both achieved global fame in entirely different industries. Steve is a prominent figures in electronic dance music, while Devon is an iconic supermodel and actress known for films like 2 Fast 2 Furious.
Are Steve and Kevin Aoki in business together?
Yes. The brothers partnered on restaurant ventures, combining Steve's creative profile with Kevin's operational expertise in the hospitality industry.
Who is the youngest Aoki sibling?
Devon Aoki is the youngest of the siblings, born in August 1982.
