After graduating from Aichi University in 1987, Sakakibara started working at Tōkai Television Broadcasting, where he organized combat sports events, among them K-1 and Union of Wrestling Forces International.

In October 1997, he joined Hiromichi Momose and Naoto Morishita to form Kakutogi Revolution Sports, which produced the first Pride event.

KRS dissolved shortly after and its member founded Dream Stage Entertainment as Pride's mother company.

The next year, he also founded and directed Dream Stage Pictures, and participated in the first event of DSE professional wrestling promotion Fighting Opera Hustle.

Regardless of the fact that he had to abide by a non-compete clause as part of the sale of Pride, Sakakibara originally had no intention of returning to the MMA business.