He is widely acclaimed for his iconic, graphic and experimental photographs of women and his seminal book, entitled Women, is an enigmatic collection of portraits subtly meshed with fashion. As with all things Japanese, his work retains an exotic element that evolved to become a signature characteristic of his style. While a student of economics at Yokohama National University, Sato became an avid reader of LIFE and other photographic and fashion magazines at the American CIE library in Hibiya. He graduated in 1953 and one year later made the move and became a freelance photographer, specialising in fashion.