In 1980 Mr. Sako: he was honored with the Kreutzer Award while a graduate student at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts, followed by a top prize finish of 2nd place at the 35th Geneva International Competition (1st prize was not awarded), and 1st prize at the Tokyo International Music Competition for chamber music.
 Upon completion of his graduate studies at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts, Mr. Sako received a scholarship grant from the German government to continue his studies under Klaus Schilde at the Munich Conservatory. 1983 saw Mr. Sako adding to his collection of prizes with a first place finish and the Spain Music Award at the 27th Jaen International Piano Competition.
 Mr. Sako is highly sought after by the world's top musicians, both as concert pianist and chamber music artist. He is a popular favorite with the NHK Symphony Orchestra as well as other major orchestras of Japan. His reputation abroad is no less stunning as he has performed with such renowned orchestras as the Slovakia Philharmonic, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
 Mr. Sako performed the complete cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas in a concert series at the Kobe Newspaper Matsukata Hall beginning January of 2001 and ending December the same year, followed by another series of 8 concerts given at Daiichi Seimei Hall in Tokyo.
 Mr. Sako's Kobe performance is scheduled for release on a CD series by Camerata Tokyo starting in July 2003 under the title of "The Complete Beethoven Sonatas". Mr. Sako has released numerous CDs, many of which can be found on the Live Notes Label.
 Mr. Sako conducted the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra in 1999, and was guest conductor with the Tokyo City Philharmonic in their subscription concert given in 2000.
 In 2002 he again took up the baton, conducting the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and Century Orchestra Osaka.