Masahiro Hamada at 60: New Frontiers Explored! From 'Sapeur' Style to the Legendary 'Chicken Rice' Song, Delving Deep into Downtown's "Now"
The news of ‘Wednesday’s Downtown’ winning the Special Prize at the recently announced ‘TVer Awards 2025’ is still fresh in our minds, right? It's solid proof that their outlandish concepts continue to resonate with streaming audiences. It made me exclaim, "That's Hamada-san for you!" He's well past 60, yet his presence is still so strong. If anything, it feels like his impact is only growing stronger each year.
But did you know that lately, Masahiro Hamada has been blowing our minds in a slightly different way, beyond just his aura as a big name in the entertainment world? It seems there’s a new culture quietly becoming a thing for him.
Hamada, Captivated by the World of 'Sapeurs'
The keyword here is ‘Sapeurs’. It refers to the culture of the 'fashion police' originating from the Congo. Their creed is to dress in elegant suits, and behave with pride and grace, no matter how poor they are or the situation they face.
Did you know that these items are already circulating?
- A white t-shirt simply called the “Sapeur Masahiro Hamada TEE XL White”. Simple, yet with a design that hints at playful details around the collar.
- There’s even a hoodie. An item with the model number “SAPEur / Masahiro Hamada Hoodie / A0023-500 / A-rank / 67” is already being traded on fashion marketplaces, something that really piques the interest of enthusiasts.
Whether Hamada himself is into the Sapeur movement, or his stylist is proposing it as a new facet of his appeal, it's unclear. Either way, there’s an undeniable aura when Masahiro Hamada embodies this 'legendary Congolese style'. Maybe one day, we’ll see him appear in a Sapeur-style suit for a Downtown location shoot. I can't wait.
The Timeless Classic 'Chicken Rice' and the Figure Market that Collectors Crave
Of course, we can’t forget his musical roots either. ‘Chicken Rice’, released with Shinji Harada, is still a karaoke staple even now. Lately, it seems niche tracks like “Chicken Rice (Original Artists: Masahiro Hamada & Shinji Harada) [Karaoke, Guide Melody-less]” are also in circulation. That heartwarming lyrics and melody just never fade, no matter how many years pass. I sometimes sing it alone, and for some reason, it always makes me tear up a little (laughs).
And for the hardcore fans, this is something you absolutely need to know: the ‘S.H.Figuarts Downtown’ series. While Hitoshi Matsumoto's figure is impressive, what really caught my 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 the figures...? It seems random at first, but this is an incredibly rare and valuable item, like a piece of ‘contemporary art’ that perfectly fuses the Reiwa-era Y2K boom with Hamada's iconic status. Just owning this is sure to earn you some respect among the connoisseurs.
Even past 60, Masahiro Hamada continues to intersect with diverse cultures – Sapeurs, music, figures. His very existence has become a symbol of Japanese subculture that Japan can proudly show the world. With his TVer Award win marking a new phase, we definitely can't take our eyes off him in the Reiwa era.