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 Kyōkai) with Yanagi Sōetsu and Kawai Kanijrō and was designated a Living National Treasure in 1955 for his mingei wares. He not only impacted the development of domestic ceramics but also influenced potters in Europe and the United States due to his association and travels with Bernard Leach (1887-1979), a well-known British potter. The vast majority of Mashiko kilns imitate his work. He was known for not signing his pieces. Famous glazes include an iron black (temmoku), a gray rice-husk ash (nuka) and a reddish-brown iron oxide (persimmon, kaki).