"[citation needed] Upon graduating from DePauw, he returned to Japan and became a telegraph officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[1] He then served in Japan's diplomatic missions to the United States, Great Britain, and France before becoming ambassador to Mexico in 1900.

[1] In 1905, Satō participated in the peace conference at Portsmouth, New Hampshire that ended the Russo-Japanese War.

[1] Satō was then appointed Japanese Ambassador to the United States from 1916 to 1918, replacing his brother-in-law and fellow DePauw alumnus Chinda Sutemi.

[1][2] Satō was recalled from his post when he proved unable to secure a deal for the export of steel plates to Japan.