Sakata started playing rugby in a boys' sports group in Otsu on He later attended Nitta High School, in Matsuyama , playing for its club until his graduation in , when he would play for Hosei University 's rugby union club, being part of the Hosei squad which won the All-Japan University Rugby Championship final against Waseda University for A year later, during the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship final against Sanyo Electric , in the loss time, he caught the ball at the last minute near the end of the touch line, which was the starting point.
He retired as player from Suntory in Between 10 and 30 March , Sakata was part of a Japan schoolboys XV which was in a tour in Wales , participating in five matches. However, he was first capped for the Japan national team in , against Canada , at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium , on 9 June. Sakata also took part at the Rugby World Cup , playing all the three pool stage matches against Argentina , Samoa and Wales , as well in the Rugby World Cup , playing three matches in tournament, with the match against Fiji at Townsville on 23 October being his last cap for Japan.
In , a year after his retirement, Sakata served as commentator on NHK university rugby relay, where his calm and unbiased commentary style was popular.
In , he was appointed as Suntory Sungoliath's general manager. In he resigned from his role. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Japan squad β Rugby World Cup. Coach: S.
Coach: Mukai. Categories : births Living people Japanese rugby union players Japan international rugby union players Hosei University alumni Rugby union hookers Asian Games medalists in rugby union Rugby union players at the Asian Games Asian Games silver medalists for Japan Medalists at the Asian Games.
