The widow of Benihana Inc.’s colorful founder Rocky Aoki is challenging the Japanese steakhouse’s right to use the Benihana name.

The challenge arose as part of a lawsuit in which the widow, Keiko Aoki, who runs the family trust that owns the Benihana trademark and licenses it to Benihana Inc., accused Benihana’s management of violating its trademark rights after they moved to register the Benihana name in Iran, Morocco, Vietnam and other countries.

The lawsuit, filed in Delaware federal court by the trust, called Benihana of Tokyo, claims the US company only has rights to use of the trademark in the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Benihana Inc. disputes the charge.

Last month, in adddition to charging Benihana Inc. with violating the licensing agreement, Keiko turned up the heat on the company by claiming the original 1995 trademark agreement may not even be valid.

According to Keiko’s legal team, the licensing agreement — which divvied up use of the trademark after Rocky Aoki split the company into two — wasn’t signed in the presence of a notary, among other concerns, making it worthless.

Benihana officials didn’t return a request for comment, but in filings with the court, the company called the move a “last ditch effort to prevent” the court from viewing a document that will get the case dismissed.

Richard Feldman, a lawyer for Keiko, told The Post that the validity of the trademark agreement is “not currently the issue being decided,” but that it “ultimately may be the issue.”

Last year, amid pressure from shareholders, Benihana said it was reviewing its strategic alternatives, including a possible sale.