Initially he used the name Tadashi Ishihara before changing it when he secured the lead role in Rodan (1956).

Sahara did a lot of work for the Toho Company, the studio that so far has produced 28 Godzilla movies.

Also, he is the actor who was often relied on in most of the films by Directors Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya.

Sahara is famous as a mainstay of Toho special-effects movies and the Ultraman series.

He also made a cameo in episodes 47 and 48 of Sonic X, being the voice of Dr. Atsumi.