 In 2002 Sato was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society for In Vitro Biology in 2002 for his contributions in both cell biology and global issues.Sato was a Laureate of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise in 2002.The annual award with a cash prize of $100,000 recognizes "men and women who are breaking new ground in areas which advance human knowledge and well-being."