Sakamoto was born in Seattle, Washington to Japanese-American parents. Because there was always an appreciation for design in the household, he became interested in design at a young age.
While studying graphic design in college, Sakamoto acquired a job at a prominent local jewelry design studio and became interested in the art form. He was excited to find a new medium in which to express himself, and was eager to experiment with precious metals and gemstones,
Concept 1 was established in 1979 in Los Angeles, California in an effort to expose Sakamoto's design to a national audience. The Concept 1 name would be changed to Sakamoto in 1995.
Sakamoto's work has often been described as miniature sculpture in the sense that every angle is appreciated. Many of the designs are bold and aggressive with architectural and far-eastern influences. The common thread is his sense of proportion, the play of positive and negative space, and the lack of purely decorative elements.