While her siblings, supermodel Devon Aoki and DJ Steve Aoki, dominate entertainment headlines, Kana Grace Nootenboom has chosen a profoundly different path. Born in 1968, she is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Director at Healing with Grace Counseling and Ketamine Center in Henderson, Nevada. As the daughter of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki, she represents the quieter side of one of America’s most recognized Japanese-American families. This article explores her educational journey, professional specializations in trauma therapy, personal life with husband Brent Nootenboom and daughters Yumi Nu and Natalie, and how she built a meaningful career focused on healing others.
Quick Bio and Basic Facts About Kana Grace Nootenboom
Full Name and Birth Year
Kana Grace Nootenboom was born in 1968 in Englewood, New Jersey. Her maiden name connects her directly to the Aoki dynasty, though she adopted the surname Nootenboom through marriage. The basic facts about her life paint a picture of someone who emerged from extraordinary circumstances to forge her own professional identity:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kana Grace Nootenboom |
| Birth Year | 1968 |
| Birthplace | Englewood, New Jersey, USA |
| Heritage | Not publicly confirmed |
| Professional License | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) – California & Nevada |
| Current Position | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist |
Family Background and Heritage
Her father, Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki, built the Benihana empire that became a symbol of Japanese dining culture in America. Her mother, Chizuru Kobayashi, is described as a strong and private figure who focused on raising her children with stability. This balance between a high-profile father and a private mother created a unique environment that later influenced how Kana chose to live away from fame and public attention.
The Aoki family structure reflects Rocky Aoki’s complicated personal life. Kana has two full siblings, namely Kevin Aoki and Steve Aoki, who share the same mother. Her half-siblings include Devon Aoki, Echo V. Aoki, Kyle N. Aoki, and Jenifer Crumb from her father’s other relationships. This blended family network spread across different households, yet the Aoki name connected them all to a legacy of ambition and creativity.
Growing up in this environment meant navigating both privilege and complexity. Her family valued ambition, creativity, and public success, yet Kana’s trajectory shows a deliberate turn toward service rather than spectacle.
Current Professional Role
Kana Grace Nootenboom serves as Clinical Director at Healing with Grace Counseling and Ketamine Center in Henderson, Nevada. She holds active licenses as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Nevada. Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree from New York University, which she earned in 1989, followed by a master’s degree from Vanguard University.
Her professional affiliations demonstrate commitment to the field. She maintains membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy as well as the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. These credentials position her within established therapeutic communities and underscore her dedication to professional standards.
At Healing with Grace, her leadership role involves overseeing clinical operations while maintaining her own therapy practice. Her work reflects a focus on healing, emotional growth, and supportive counseling that extends beyond traditional talk therapy approaches. The center’s name itself suggests a philosophy centered on compassion and restoration, values that appear central to her professional identity.
From Benihana Legacy to Private Life: Early Years and Family Roots
Growing Up as Rocky Aoki’s Daughter
Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki was born in Tokyo in 1938, descended from a samurai clan from Wakayama Prefecture. His father Yunosuke ran a café named after a red flower spotted in the wreckage after American B-29s firebombed Tokyo in 1942, killing close to 100,000 people. Rocky transformed that modest beginning into the Benihana empire, but he was far more than a restaurateur. He was a former wrestler, a playboy, a risk-taker who loved adventure sports and lived with wild intensity.
Growing up under his influence meant exposure to a world where business, culture, fame, and high expectations collided. Rocky loved being in front of cameras and would “light up” when they turned on, then fall asleep when they turned off. This theatrical personality shaped the environment his children inhabited. The pressure of being his child was considerable, as one sibling noted: “He basically changed the way Americans think about Japanese culture and cuisine”.
Mother Chizuru Kobayashi’s Influence
Chizuru Kobayashi married Rocky in 1964 and became his first wife. She worked as a jewelry designer and maintained a calmer public presence compared to her husband’s flamboyant lifestyle. Through her, Kana learned patience, softness, and creativity. She provided the balance behind the scenes while Rocky pursued his ambitious ventures.
The marriage lasted until 1981, but the unraveling began earlier. Rocky kept his affairs hidden until a severe boating accident in 1979 left him in a three-day coma. When he woke up, both Chizuru and Pamela Hilberger stood by his bedside. Chizuru initially forgave him, but ended the marriage when she learned he had fathered a child with Hilberger. Rocky himself admitted he had “three kids from three different women at exactly the same time”.
Siblings: Steve Aoki, Devon Aoki, and the Blended Aoki Family
Kana shares two full siblings with the same parents: Kevin Aoki and Steve Aoki. Kevin became a restaurateur and partner with Steve, continuing the Benihana legacy. Steve, born in 1977, became a world-famous DJ and music producer.
Meanwhile, Rocky’s relationship with Pamela Hilberger produced three children: Kyle, Echo, and Devon. Devon became an internationally recognized model and actress, known for roles in “2 Fast 2 Furious” and “Sin City”. Rocky also fathered a seventh child, Jenifer, with another woman, though he didn’t learn about the pregnancy until a paternity suit was filed.
Despite this complicated structure, Rocky made efforts to unite his children. He gathered all of them for trips around the world, particularly during Benihana promotional events. Steve recalled these “amazing adventures across the world, hanging out with pops”. Rocky would tell them: “You guys be friends. You guys are brothers and sisters”.
The family later faced bitter legal battles. When Rocky married his third wife Keiko Ono in 2002, Kana and Kevin presented her with a postnuptial agreement. Rocky retaliated by suing four of his six children and disinheriting them. The conflicts stretched into court battles that continued years after his death in 2008.
Living in a Famous Family While Choosing Privacy
Whereas Steve pursued electronic music stardom and Devon achieved modeling fame, Kana quietly pursued education and helping others. She remained close yet distinct from the more public figures. Her marriage to Brent Nootenboom reflects a life lived quietly, focused on family and community rather than celebrity. She chooses privacy and focused purpose over public attention, never becoming a social media star or tabloid figure.
Education Path and Career Transformation
Academic Journey: NYU to Clinical Psychology
Kana Grace Nootenboom completed her bachelor’s degree at New York University in 1989. This foundation in undergraduate education marked the beginning of a structured academic path that would eventually lead her far from the entertainment world her siblings inhabited. Years later, she pursued graduate studies at Vanguard University in California, earning a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. The coursework covered family conflict, trauma response, emotional development, and relational dynamics. These subjects provided the theoretical framework she needed to understand human behavior and support clients through psychological challenges.
Her decision to study clinical psychology reflected an intentional move toward service-oriented work. Unlike Devon Aoki’s modeling contracts or Steve Aoki’s music career, Kana Grace Nootenboom chose education that prepared her to address emotional pain and relationship struggles. The graduate training required rigorous study, supervised clinical hours, and commitment to ethical standards that govern therapeutic practice.
From Modeling to Mental Health
Before entering the mental health field, she worked as a model. Growing up surrounded by beauty, media attention, and fashion industry connections made modeling a natural early path. She remained active in that world during her younger years and brought her infant daughter Yumi Nu to modeling shoots. These experiences exposed her to creative expression and visual storytelling, yet modeling did not fulfill her long-term professional aspirations.
Consequently, her desire to help people and guide families experiencing emotional struggles redirected her focus. The shift from modeling to mental health demonstrates a fundamental reorientation of values. She moved away from appearance-centered work toward depth-oriented healing that required understanding internal experiences rather than external presentation.
Becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
She holds active licenses as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both Nevada and California. Her Nevada license number is 01435, while her California license is 94047. These credentials required completing thousands of supervised clinical hours, passing comprehensive examinations, and maintaining continuing education requirements. The LMFT designation authorizes her to provide therapy for individuals, couples, parents, children, and families.
She maintains clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. These professional affiliations connect her to established therapeutic communities and ongoing developments in the field.
Professional Training and Specializations
Beyond her foundational degrees, she completed extensive specialized training in multiple therapeutic modalities:
- EMDR Therapy
- IFS for Couples
- IFS Neuroscience and Spirituality
- Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy Certification from Integrative Psychiatry Institute
- Facilitator of Prepare Enrich Premarital and Marital Assessment
- Neurofeedback
- Play Therapy and Sandtray Therapy
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
She also trained in How We Love Attachment Styles Therapy and Parts & Memory work. This breadth of training equips her to address trauma, anxiety, depression, relational conflict, and deep emotional wounds through evidence-based techniques combined with compassionate care.
Professional Work as Clinical Director and Therapist
Role at Healing With Grace Counseling and Ketamine Center
Her position as Clinical Director at Healing with Grace Counseling and Ketamine Center in Henderson, Nevada involves both leadership and direct client care. As Clinical Director, she guides the quality and direction of care throughout the facility. This includes supporting therapy services, helping establish clinical standards, and ensuring clients receive thoughtful and professional support. The role requires experience, responsibility, and clear understanding of mental health care delivery.
Beyond administrative duties, she maintains an active therapy practice. She works directly with individuals, couples, children, and families navigating anxiety, depression, relational pain, and emotional challenges. Sessions cost $250 per session for children, individuals, couples, and families, with sliding scale options available upon request. She operates as an out-of-network provider and provides superbills for insurance reimbursement.
Therapy Approach and Treatment Methods
Her therapeutic approach integrates multiple evidence-based practices. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Play Therapy, and Sandplay. She also incorporates Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems therapy into her treatment plans.
The center provides therapy for depression, anxiety, child and family counseling, parenting support, and couples counseling. Each service is designed to meet unique needs of individuals, couples, and families. Her sessions are structured yet adaptable, welcoming clients from all backgrounds. She offers Christian counseling for those seeking faith-integrated therapy while honoring every path and story with compassion and respect.
Specializations: Trauma, EMDR, and Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
She specializes in working with anxiety across all age groups, including adults, adolescents, and children. She addresses couples experiencing communication and trust issues. Her trauma work utilizes EMDR and Parts & Memory approaches.
As a certified EMDR therapist and trained Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapist, she combines traditional wisdom with research-based healing methods. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy represents a cutting-edge approach increasingly used to treat deep psychological pain.
Helping Families and Individuals Heal
She serves diverse populations across the lifespan: children aged 6-12, teenagers 12-18, young adults 18-24, adults 24 and older, and elders 65 and above. Her specializations encompass anxiety, child and adolescent issues, couples counseling, depression, life transitions, and trauma.
Clients often report feeling seen, safe, and supported in their work together. They describe her care as addressing not just mental health symptoms but recognizing them as whole persons with mind, body, and spirit. This human-first approach creates a space where people feel heard, respected, and understood.
Personal Life: Husband, Children, and Motherhood
Marriage to Brent Nootenboom
Kana Grace Nootenboom married Brent Nootenboom, who has Dutch roots and worked in music before transitioning to IT. Their relationship remains intensely private, with limited public information about their marriage. Some sources suggest they may still be together, while others indicate the status is unclear. She does not discuss her marriage publicly, maintaining separation between her family life and professional work.
Daughter Yumi Nu: Model and Body Positivity Advocate
Yumi Nu, born in 1996, became the first Asian-American plus-size cover model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2022. She has appeared in major Vogue issues, launched her own clothing line, and advocates for body positivity and Asian-American representation. Beyond modeling, Yumi works as a singer-songwriter. She also modeled for Victoria’s Secret.
Daughter Natalie Nootenboom
Natalie, the younger daughter, is also a model featured in fashion editorials. She is known for bold fashion choices and creative expression. Her journey, though separate from Yumi’s, reflects the supportive environment Kana provided at home.
Balancing Privacy with Family Success
When Yumi was 7 and Natalie 3, the family moved to Maryland, where they spent seven years in a predominantly white community. Feeling the strain, the Nootenbooms moved to Newport, California, where Kana had grown up and the girls’ grandmother still lived. Both daughters speak kindly of their mother, explaining how she supported them, guided them, and gave them strength.
Parenting Philosophy and Family Values
Brent, a creative soul, passed on his artistic inclinations. He would play an eclectic mix of records and create collage art to hang on the walls. For their birthdays, he arranged elaborate scavenger hunts with pictures of animals and clues. Kana provided emotional intelligence and a propensity for self-reflection that helped their family through difficult times.
Conclusion
While her siblings pursued entertainment and fashion, Kana Grace Nootenboom deliberately chose a different path. Her journey from the Benihana legacy to clinical psychology demonstrates that success takes many forms. As a result, she built a meaningful career focused on healing trauma, supporting families, and helping individuals navigate their deepest emotional challenges.
Her extensive training in EMDR, ketamine-assisted therapy, and multiple therapeutic modalities positions her as a compassionate leader in mental health care. She proves that stepping away from fame to serve others can create lasting impact. For those seeking genuine healing and professional support, therapists like Kana represent the quiet strength behind transformative care.
FAQs
Q1. Who are Steve Aoki’s siblings?
Steve Aoki has several siblings from his father Rocky Aoki’s multiple relationships. His full siblings include Kana Grace Nootenboom and Kevin Aoki, who share the same mother, Chizuru Kobayashi. His half-siblings are Devon Aoki, Echo V. Aoki, Kyle N. Aoki, and Jenifer Crumb from his father’s other relationships.
Q2. What is Kana Grace Nootenboom’s profession?
Kana Grace Nootenboom is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who serves as Clinical Director at Healing with Grace Counseling and Ketamine Center in Henderson, Nevada. She holds active licenses in both California and Nevada and specializes in trauma therapy, EMDR, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Q3. Who are Devon Aoki’s parents?
Devon Aoki’s father was Rocky Aoki, the former wrestler and founder of the Benihana restaurant chain. Her mother is Pamela Hilburger, a jewelry designer. Devon’s father was Japanese, while her mother is of German and English ancestry.
Q4. How is Kana Grace Nootenboom related to the Benihana founder?
Kana Grace Nootenboom is the daughter of Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki, who founded the Benihana restaurant empire. Born in 1968, she is one of Rocky’s children from his first marriage to Chizuru Kobayashi, making her part of the famous Aoki family legacy.
Q5. Who is Yumi Nu’s mother?
Yumi Nu’s mother is Kana Grace Nootenboom, a licensed therapist and clinical director. Kana raised Yumi and her sister Natalie with strong family values and emotional support, which helped shape Yumi’s confidence as she became the first Asian-American plus-size cover model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2022.
