Born in Utsunomiya, Japan, Sadao first began learning music at the age of 18 and started
performing professionally in 1953. By 1958 he had performed with leading
musicians and quartets. In 1962 he left Japan to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1995 the college awarded him an honorary doctorate degree for his contributions to music. In addition to his musical career, Watanabe has published six photography books in Japan.