Born in Niigata, Sakaguchi was part of a group of young Japanese writers to rise and prominence in the years immediately following Japan's defeat in World War II.

In 1946, he wrote his most famous essay, "Darakuron" ("Discourse on Decadence"), which examined the role of bushido during the war.

He became heavily involved in Buddhism and attended Toyo University to study Indian philosophy, graduating at the age of 25.

He struggled for recognition as a writer for years before finally finding it with "A Personal View of Japanese Culture" in 1942, and again with "On Decadence" in 1946.

For more on Sakaguchi's role in postwar Japan, see John Dower's book Embracing Defeat, pp.