This sly-faced actor, with a notable presence, joined the renowned Japanese film studio, Toho, in the year 1956. Shortly after, he began playing a variety of villainous roles, with one of his most iconic performances being that of an elusive gangster in Ishiro Honda's 1958 film, Bijo to Ekitai Ningen, also known as The H-Man, a movie characterized by its near complete lack of dialogue.
The following year, Toho elevated him to stardom with Kihachi Okamoto's 1959 surprise hit, the cynical war picture, Dokuritsu Gurentai, also known as Desperado Outpost. Subsequently, he divided his time between leading roles in Toho's war films and gangster pictures, although he was no longer always confined to playing the villain.
Typical of his gangster films are Ishiro Honda's 1960 release, Shinko no ko, and Jun Fukuda's 1962 film, Ankokugaino Kiba, also known as Fangs of the Underworld. This latter role provided an opportunity for him to showcase his comedic talents, as he played a gangster who is constantly thwarted in his pursuit to build the perfect house of cards.
Throughout his illustrious career, Sato has remained a prominent figure in Japanese cinema and television, and his demand for work has not wavered to this day.
