Along with fellow directors, Takahisa Zeze, Toshiki Satō and Hisayasu Sato, he is known as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Pink" (ピンク四天王, pinku shitenno).
[1] Sano's films differ from those of other Pink film directors of the time in that, while not necessarily optimistic or upbeat, they are more concerned with relationships and romance than violence and sadism.
[2] He has the distinction of winning the Best Director prize three consecutive years at the Pink Grand Prix.
Sano acted in films of Kazuo "Gaira" Komizu and Hisayasu Sato before he began directing.
[3][4] Sano's directorial debut was Capturing: Dirty Foreplay (1989), which, like most of his films, he also wrote and starred in.