Masahiro Hamada: Still Evolving Past 60! Digging into Downtown’s "Now"—From His 'Sapeur' Fashion to the Legendary 'Chicken Rice'
The news of 'Wednesday's Downtown' winning a Special Prize at the recently announced 'TVer Awards 2025' is still pretty fresh. It just goes to show that those wild, rule-bending concepts are still a hit, even on streaming platforms. You can't help but think, "That's our Hamada-san!" The guy's well past 60, but his presence is as strong as ever. Honestly, it feels like his impact just gets bigger every year.
But did you know that lately, Masahiro Hamada has been blowing our minds in a totally different way, beyond just being the big man of Japanese entertainment? It seems he's got a new cultural obsession brewing quietly.
Hamada, Captivated by the World of 'Sapeurs'
The keyword here is 'Sapeur'. It's a culture originating in the Congo, all about these guys who are basically the ultimate fashionistas, known as 'Sapeurs'. Their philosophy is to dress in elegant suits, no matter how poor or tough the situation, and carry themselves with dignity and grace.
Did you know these items are already making the rounds?
- A simple white tee, the "Sapeur sapeur Masahiro Hamada TEE XL White," with a design that looks like it might have a playful detail around the collar.
- And even a hoodie. The model number "SAPEur sapeur/Masahiro Hamada Hoodie/A0023-500/A-rank/67" is the kind of thing that gets collectors' hearts racing, and it's already being traded on fashion marketplaces.
Whether Hamada himself is really getting into the Sapeur movement, or his stylist is pitching it as a new facet of his image, it's hard to say. Either way, seeing Masahiro Hamada embrace this 'legendary Congolese fashion' gives it an undeniable aura. Maybe one day we'll see him on a Downtown shoot, rocking a full Sapeur-style suit. I can't wait.
The Timeless Hit 'Chicken Rice' and Figurines That Make Collectors Drool
And of course, we can't forget his musical roots. His collaboration with Shinji Makihara, 'Chicken Rice', is still a karaoke staple. Lately, you can even find niche audio versions floating around, like "Chicken Rice (Original Artist: Masahiro Hamada & Shinji Makihara) [Karaoke, No Guide Melody]." That heartwarming tune and its lyrics just never get old. I still sing it alone sometimes, and I almost always get a little choked up (laughs).
And for the die-hard fans, this next bit is essential. We're talking about the 'S.H.Figuarts Downtown' series. The Hitoshi Matsumoto figurine is one thing, but what really caught our eye in the market recently was this set: "Super Rare Current Archive Miu Miu Snap Hook Shoulder Bag y2k S.H.Figuarts Downtown Hitoshi Matsumoto x2 figures Masahiro Hamada x2 figures." A Miu Miu bag bundled with figurines? At first glance, it seems totally random. But it's actually a perfect fusion of the Reiwa-era Y2K trend and the iconic status of Hamada—a super rare item with serious 'modern art' vibes. Just owning this would definitely earn you some respect among the in-the-know collectors.
Past 60, and still connecting with everything from Sapeur to music to figurines—Masahiro Hamada's very existence is practically a subculture icon that Japan should be proud to show the world. With his TVer Award win marking a new chapter, we can't take our eyes off him in this Reiwa era.