Following Sano's promotion to lieutenant commander in 1904, he was assigned as aide-de-camp to Prince Yamashina Kikumaro for the duration of the Russo-Japanese War.

After the war, he served in a number of staff positions, and was assigned as executive officer to the submarine tender Toyohashi in 1908.

Sano was a participant, during which time he attended a Wood Badge course at Gilwell Park, marking the watershed for the first period of Japanese Scouting.

Sano then attended the 3rd World Scout Jamboree in the United Kingdom, and received the Silver Wolf award from Baden-Powell in 1931.

Sano was given the title of "Elder" by the National Scout Association of Japan in 1954, and was given the highest award of the NSAJ, the Kijishō, in 1955.