Yutaka Sado was born in the Japanese city of Kyoto in 1961, and studied there at the City University of Arts. He worked with Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood in the United States, and then as assistant to Seiji Ozawa with the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.

Since 1990 he has served, together with Christoph Eschenbach and Michael Tilson Thomas, as one of the three resident conductors of the Sapporo Pacific Music Festival founded by Bernstein. In October 1993 he was appointed Guest Conductor of the Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux, the youngest to hold such a position.

In addition to his work with that orchestra, Yutaka Sado enjoys an international career that has brought important engagements with leading orchestras throughout the world.