Hamada studied under Itaya Hazan (1872-1963) at the ceramics department of Tokyo Technical College from 1913-16 and subsequently worked at the Kyoto Ceramics Research Institute. He founded the Japan Folk Art Association (Nihon Mingei Kyōkai) with Yanagi Sōetsu and Kawai Kanijrō and was designated a Living National Treasure in 1955 for his mingei wares. He not only impacted the development of