This is the artist’s sixth show with the gallery
Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting
we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death
He was 84 years old at the time of his passing
to Takumi Horace Hamada and Maki Grace Okubo Hamada
“My life was directly influenced by two wars.” After the bombing of Pearl Harbor during World War II
were interned at Merced Racetrack in California and then the Amache Internment Camp in Granada
Paul’s father decided to move the family away from rural farm roots on the West Coast all the way to New York City
and to Albert Einstein College of Medicine for his internship and residency in internal medicine
Paul was anticipating a career at an urban teaching hospital
but the Vietnam War halted his plans in 1967
Even though Paul was 29 years old and married with two children
Paul was assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base
When the newly drafted physicians were listing their preferred assignments and specialties
Rather than just straightening out the error
the Air Force sent Paul to the Meninger Clinic for three months of training so he could be an Air Force psychiatrist as well as an internist
There were 12 other physicians of other specialties at the Meninger Clinic at the same time as Paul — learning to be Air Force psychiatrists due to paperwork mix-ups
The experience he received in the Air Force permitted him to include psychiatric work in his later civilian medical career
New York City life lost its charm for Paul
He didn’t like the reality of triple locking doors and other rituals of urban safety
Although nothing in particular drew him to Hood River
the area met most of the criteria he had set for his practice: it was in the Northwest
it was within one hour of a city and medical school
Paul discovered that Hood River offered him an array of opportunities
Hood River Memorial Hospital was establishing intensive care and coronary care units
and the Center for Living had not yet been established
He had been very involved in drug abuse programs in the Air Force
and while in New York had been one of the founders of the Methadone program to combat heroin use
In addition to serving as director of the hospital’s ICU and CCU
He became involved in substance abuse work at the state level
with an appointment by Governor Tom McCall — and later reappointed by Governor Bob Straub — to the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Problems
He also served on the Governor’s Commission on Youth of Oregon
Paul opened his solo practice office in the daylight basement at 1784 May St
He set up his office to provide total patient care
Paul gained a great deal of appreciation for parenting and for the working houseperson
Paul’s mother and father moved to Hood River and helped him care for Dan
Paul cared for his parents during their golden years
the two continued to work closely together to cover each other’s days off and provide the best care for the community
Paul married Catherine Benton and began a life with her and her children
Cathy joined him in his office as his office manager
medical assistant and all-around girl Friday
It was the one way the couple could see more of each other and spend time together due to Paul’s busy office and on-call schedule
Paul and Cathy purchased a piece of property out of town near her pear orchard
They built their dream home and moved in the next year
Paul’s home office was designed to be in a section of the kitchen so the two newlyweds could be close to one another as much as possible
Paul was a wonderful and supportive father to Anna and Stephen all throughout their childhoods and into their adult lives
He joined the kids in their school and community activities including dog and small animal 4-H and other shows at every opportunity
Paul volunteered as dog show chairman for the Hood River County Fair for several seasons and kept watch over the small animal barn during fair
He was an avid supporter of the Hood River 4-H program
Paul suffered a life-altering medical event and had to give up his on-call work at the hospital
He continued to care for his patients until he found it necessary to retire after being diagnosed with kidney disease in July of 2013
but made sure to transfer patient records to a doctor of their choice
This marked the end of his 44-year medical career serving Hood River and the wider Columbia River Gorge area
Paul was about to begin the most challenging chapter of his life
He began to prepare for eventual hemodialysis three days per week
He started dialysis in 2016 and continued for nine years with Cathy as his care partner throughout this tumultuous time
Though his ability to travel was restricted by his medical needs
He loved assembling puzzles with his young grandchildren
and maintaining his medical certifications and continuing education
Paul is survived by his beloved wife Cathy; daughter Debbe Hamada and her husband
and Kiana; stepdaughter Anna Allen and her husband
and their sons Zadock and Bodie; stepson Stephen Thompson; brother Robert Hamada and his wife
Danielle; niece Janet Hamada and her husband Steve Glatter and their children; nephew Matthew Hamada and his wife Maria and their children; along with Benton in-laws and extended family
Paul was predeceased by his parents Horace and Maki Hamada; son Dan Hamada (2014); parents-in-law Chuck and Frances Benton; and brother-in-law Steve Benton
The quality of life during Paul’s last years could not have been maintained without the Ray Yasui Dialysis Center and its director
c/o Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Foundation
and write “Paul Hamada” in the memo line or attached with a donation
Cathy Hamada wishes to thank the devoted staff of Paul Hamada’s office
and Tracy Mansfield — he appreciated you all more than you will ever know
Thanks for your support and prayers on our worst days; Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Emergency Department doctors
and staff; Hood River Fire and Rescue Ambulance crew Sam
Services are pending with arrangements under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family
By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute
you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning
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Hamada Zahawi MC/MPA 2017 and Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellow 2017 is the co-chair of the Center for Public Leadership’s Alumni Council
Zahawi has served on the CPL Alumni Council since 2021
Zahawi talks about the growing community of alumni
how they can stay engaged and get involved in the mission of public service at the core of CPL
Zahawi is a lawyer and managing partner of Veritas Global Advisers based in Santa Monica
with extensive experience working at the intersection of business
Hamada Zahawi: When I graduated from Harvard Kennedy School
my goal was to try to be as involved as possible afterwards
I'd gone to graduate schools a couple of times
and I never really felt a strong connection with the graduate program afterwards
at HKS I immediately started recognizing that there's a concerted effort to get folks involved
I was very involved on campus when I was a student
and since I was heavily involved at CPL as one of the fellows
the CPL Alumni Council would be a good natural transition for me to do something less identity-focused and more focused towards the school
I don't think I was accepted the first time I applied
and then the second year was encouraged to apply again
HZ: I was an Emirates Leadership Initiative (ELI) fellow
so I only had about a year to do my studies
I was pretty much battling FOMO [fear of missing out] the whole time
trying to do as much as I could to be involved in various areas
so we were really able to do a lot during that one year
We ended up really doing a lot for the fellows
We got some professors…to provide us with their time to come
specifically for our group to really train us up on public speaking and public narrative
We had a variety of different things that were really unique to us that we were able to pull off
There was one other thing that we got really involved in
because ELI is a Middle Eastern organization and this was during the first Trump administration’s travel ban
Since there were a lot of people that were in our program affected by that
we also got very involved in the Harvard Arab Student Association
We were able to sponsor certain events for other Arabs at Harvard
Another instance that I thought was really fantastic was that CPL was very encouraging of people doing community service
They challenged us to come up with a community service project for each fellowship
which we also were able to get some funding for during the course of the year
And then I think our big play was that we got involved in CPL’s 25th reunion
It was a fairly big event and also coincided with the retirement of David Gergen
Alumni can get more involved by attending those reunions
being ready to jump on board when asked to be mentors
or by allowing themselves to be mentees to other alumni mentors that need support
A good way to think about CPL Alumni Council is that there's three buckets
You're playing that role where you're trying to bring regional events together so that folks can come together
doing things that really keep everyone feeling involved
I think it's been 20 years since CPL started
There's obviously a contingency in the Middle East with the ELI Fellowship
and then a contingency of folks that are internationals who received scholarships and fellowships and went back to their respective countries
I think keeping everybody close knit together is playing a proactive role
that you really should not just take that money and disappear
but that you should continue serving and paying it forward for other folks
You’re helping alumni get on the right path in terms of their careers
putting on workshops for folks and playing the role of mentor to get them to be where they need to be
Even working with current fellows to also prepare them on the career path
given the caliber of the CPL fellows that are already in the program
It's a very interesting yet very important bucket
Public Leadership is something to do with public service
It's called public leadership.’” It's about giving back to the greater society
The goal here is to try to get people to continue to give back
There's going to be folks who want to go from the private sector back to the public sector
Folks who are in the private sector who want to at least donate some of their time to the public to the public sector
Our goal on the Alumni Council is to really focus and drill down on how we can help any of these people really live up to that onus [for public leadership] that we are all mandated to carry out
we need to realize not everyone is going to want to run for congress or become a senator
I think the idea is that there's going to be people giving back in different gradations
as long as they're involved in some public sector work
or public service in the form of volunteering
This could also be from being part of the Alumni Council
or going all the way through to running the CSR (corporate social responsibility) of your company
What you want to ask yourself is ‘In my life
I don't necessarily work in the public sector
even though I feel like some of the work that I do has a lot of advocacy for society
I still try to do certain things that are for the public sector
but if leadership is acting in a certain way to help society and other people…you know
that could also be quite inspiring for people as well
I've been working at this tech company for the last 30 years
and I really want to do more public service
or help raise money for this school” and whatever part of the world that is in dire straits
And I think that is why there is a CPL alumni community
So that we could crowdsource ideas together to help people really achieve the highest level of public service that they possibly could in their vision
An official website of the United States government
Open Search
Photos courtesy of Neil Hamada and Patricia Jeffries
With just under 30 years working with the BLM
Neil Hamada recently accepted a new position as the off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel management lead for the BLM California State Office
Neil has been a champion for OHV management in southern California
serving as the longtime manager of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA)
one of the nation's premier OHV destinations within the El Centro Field Office
Neil thought he’d be a “lifer” in El Centro but hopes this new position will allow him the opportunity to have a positive impact on the BLM’s OHV program
and those weekends camping and riding his dirt bike
He aspires to build and maintain a high quality
sustainable OHV program for BLM California
as well as inspire BLM staff to do what is important for each of their programs
Neil still heads out to the desert and mountains with friends and family to hunt
and ride on BLM-managed lands across the western U.S
He recently gave up his dirt bike and has been driving his jeep because as he says
come cage!” (a reference to a roll cage for protection)
Neil is happily married and his wife works for the San Diego County Library
They are very proud of their daughter who is a land surveyor in training (she recently graduated from San Diego State University with a Geography degree) and their son who serves our country as a combat medic in the U.S
An official website of the Department of the Interior
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Oregon. He was 84 years old at the time of his passing. Paul was born May 13th
to Takumi Horace Hamada and Maki Grace Okubo Hamada.
Services for Paul will be held at 3:00 p.m.
at Anderson’s Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue
Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family
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Aki Hamada Architects presents Floating Wood, a furniture series that applies digital fabrication and embraces natural imperfections. The project transforms real tree trunks into table legs through 3D scanning and printing to preserve their natural shapes while allowing them to rotate freely
The result is a collection of tables that resemble a floating grove
Each table leg is made from cellulose acetate, a biodegradable material derived from wood fiber and cotton
which naturally decomposes when buried or submerged
The plasticizer is food-safe and also used in space food
supporting the eco-friendly approach of the design team
tree-like legs are oak tabletops marked with insect-made patterns
repurposing wood that would typically be discarded
Floating Wood brings a fresh take on traditional craft by using digital tools to shape organic forms. Tokyo-based Aki Hamada Architects teams up with Boolean for 3D printing and Yutaro Matsumoto for wood production
combining their expertise to transform real tree trunks into unique furniture pieces
The process starts with scanning the trunks and customizing their shapes through 3D printing
aiming to preserve their natural feel as much as possible
The use of insect-related bio-fabrication adds an unexpected quality
The project challenges conventional mass production
showing how digital design can integrate imperfections instead of erasing them.
this furniture series applies digital fabrication and embraces natural imperfections
the project transforms real tree trunks into table legs
this collection of tables that resembles a floating grove
each table leg is made from cellulose acetate
this biodegradable material is derived from wood fiber and cotton
the plasticizer is food-safe and also used in space food
the tabletops are marked with insect-made patterns
Floating Wood brings a fresh take on traditional craft
name: Floating Wood designer: Aki Hamada Architects | @aki_hamada_architects
Yanning Hou 3D print: Boolean (Toki Hamasaki) wood furniture: Yutaro Matsumoto photographer: Yuuki Tanaka
AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function
but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style
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Like most Hawaiians he had a love of swimming and surfing in the ocean
He practiced every day in the canals near his home
eventually swimming for the Varsity team all 4 years of high school
Allan joined the Air Force at the age of eighteen
During his service he lived in various countries on 4 continents
and continued to swim for the Air Force swim team winning numerous awards
Allan served 20 years and completed his career as First Master Sergeant with various accolades and medals
he met the love of his life Anita Corai and was married for 65 years
Tommaso (Tommy) and Tamara (Tammy) Woolley
Allan started working as a security guard for Hughes aircraft and would work his way up and eventually retire as the head of corporate security at their headquarters facility in Culver City
Allan and Anita served two missions for the LDS church in Italy before settling down in Nephi
Allan had many hobbies in addition to swimming and surfing
Allan was active throughout his life in the LDS church serving in many callings such as Branch President and in the Stake Presidency
2024 at 88 years old with his wife and daughter by his side
Cody (Amanda) Woolley and great-grand daughter Emilia
The Funeral will be held on September 27th at 11:00am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
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A Syrian spy posing as a refugee in the Netherlands lured prominent anti-government activist Mazen al-Hamada into Syria, resulting in his arrest and killing in Damascus, a Dutch investigation has found
The report on Dutch website Alex Nieuws revealed that a Syrian intelligence contractor known as Majed A was paid around €800,000 over three years for his work for the Mukhabarat
the secret service of ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s government
who ran a furniture store in Eindhoven as part of his cover
was paid through a business account via four companies in the Netherlands between 2019 and 2021
according to a Syrian fighter who defected from a paramilitary group loyal to Assad
a whistleblower and fierce critic of Assad from Hama
who had reportedly infiltrated Syrian intelligence networks to reveal that Majed A was a security agent who had been rejected because he had a criminal record
“But Majed wanted to prove that he was capable of working for the Mukhabarat,” Ashqar told Alex Nieuws
He seized the opportunity to collaborate with Mohammad Samouri
the head of Syrian intelligence in London and a former vice-consul at the embassy there
Majed undertook the mission of luring escaped opponents of the Assad government back to Syria with the help of Samouri
promising that they wouldn’t be harmed if they returned
In 2020, the Assad government started calling refugees back into the country, promising reconciliation. Reports, however, showed that those who returned had been arrested
disappeared or killed after being tortured.
Many Syrians reportedly refused Majed A’s advances
The activist was a leading voice against the Assad government and spent years abroad recounting the horrors he endured in Sednaya prison
Detained for over 18 months after attempting to smuggle baby formula into a besieged suburb of Damascus in 2012
psychological and sexual abuse he faced during his first imprisonment.
He was arrested again immediately upon his return to Syria in 2020 and kept in the country’s notorious Sednaya prison
He was found dead in a military hospital morgue near Damascus in December 2024 after the collapse of the Assad government
executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) organisation
said that Syrian intelligence told Hamada a series of lies
including that “he could go back home and negotiate the release of prisoners from Deir Ezzor”
“Mazen was very much in a bad psychological state
They exploited his mental state and his trauma
they gave him a new passport,” Moustafa told Middle East Eye
Mazen was booked a flight by the regime from Berlin to Beirut
There was a lady from the embassy who went with him
His last call was with our team from SETF and his nephew from the airport,” he said
told a NOS reporter in Syria that the intelligence services threatened Hamada
“And Mazen knew what the regime did to women,” Lamya said
referring to the sexual abuse faced by women in Syria’s prisons
Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye
Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters
Middle East Eye ISSN 2634-2456
Copyright © 2022 ALM Media Properties, LLC.
More than a year since the $17 billion writedown of Credit Suisse’s AT-1 bonds, law firms are still gathering investor classes to recoup their losses
Big Four Japanese firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto has partnered with litigation funder LCM to represent Japanese investors bringing international arbitration proceedings against Switzerland
seeking compensation over the $17 billion write down of Credit Suisse AT-1 bonds in March last year
Mori Hamada says together with LCM it has gathered a class of Japan-only investors who are looking to claim approximately $150 million
The Recorder
New York Law Journal
Delaware Business Court Insider
The Legal Intelligencer
Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit
accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products
18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc
Read More
Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives
24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell
accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment
Read More
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action
11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld
accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls
Read More
a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure
Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit
25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC
accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement
Read More
Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc
26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern
alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase
Read More
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The reports of long-time Syrian activist Mazen al-Hamada’s death in Syria’s infamous Sednaya prison sent shockwaves across the globe
and I started screaming,” said Maysoun Berkdar
a Berlin-based Syrian journalist who was celebrating the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad when she received the news
one of Syria’s most prominent anti-government activists
had spent years abroad telling people of the abuses he suffered in Sednaya
where he was held for over a year and a half for trying to smuggle in baby formula in 2012
mental and sexual abuse he was subjected to in prison
Hamada shocked his peers when he decided to return to Damascus in early 2020
Berkdar was the last person to speak with him before his flight from Beirut to Damascus
She desperately pleaded with him to change his mind
“I will never forget a single word I told him
how hard I tried and how angry I got,” she told Middle East Eye
what are you doing going there?’” she recalled telling him
warning him that the government could severely punish him should he step foot into Syria
he still boarded the flight that led to his eventual disappearance
Sakir Khader, a Palestinian visual artist who lived near Hamada in the Netherlands, said on X that the Dutch government was “jointly responsible” for his death.
“As the violence [in Syria] escalated, so did the pressure from various authorities in the Netherlands,” he said. “Mazen was told he had to give something in return for everything he had been given.”
Hamada's severe post-traumatic stress disorder left him in constant fear, according to Khader, making it difficult for him to work.
“Every time Mazen traveled abroad to testify against Assad and share his story of injustice, Dutch authorities increased the pressure on him. If he could travel, which they considered more like vacations, then he should be able to work.”
In a video published before he left for Syria, Hamada accused the Dutch government of increasing its pressure on him by cutting off his benefits, leaving him unable to pay rent and struggling mentally and financially.
Badawi al-Mugharbel, a close friend and neighbour of Hamada’s, disagreed with these claims, saying the Dutch government treated him well and that his loss of money was due to personal disputes.
Regardless, Hamada had reached a breaking point where he allegedly reached out to members of Syria’s government to plan his return.
“The last few times I saw Mazen, his health situation had severely deteriorated,” Mugharbel said. “I asked him if he needed any money, because I helped him a lot with his expenses.”
All of Mugharbel’s attempts to stop Hamada from leaving fell short.
“We tried very hard to help him get out of the crisis he was in,” he said.
“At the end, he accused me of not looking out for his wellbeing, saying, ‘No, you are jealous of me because I am going to see Bashar al-Assad.’”
Berkdar said Hamada was “convinced that he [would] play a good role in freeing prisoners and building [our] country” by returning to Damascus.
Following Hamada’s disappearance, his friends and family worked tirelessly to receive any information on his whereabouts.
Mugharbel was even in contact with a source in Damascus to try to find any kind of information.
Despite this, nothing prepared them for what seemed to be an image of his tortured body pulled out of Sednaya on Monday, a day after Assad’s government had fallen.
'It is like someone losing a parent on their wedding day'
- Badawi al-Mugharbel, a close friend of Mazen al-Hamada
“We were shocked when they got him out of Sednaya yesterday,” Mugharbel said. “I could not sleep; I was extremely depressed.
“My joy from the fall of the regime evaporated in Sednaya, even more so with [the death of] Mazen.”
Thousands of prisoners were reportedly freed from many government prisons after the rebels’ takeover of Syria, and evidence of human rights abuses was found and shared widely online.
Many, like Berkdar, hope those responsible will be held accountable.
“No one must be left unpunished,” she said. “Legally, not through vengeance.”
Plenty of others, like Mugharbel, are still waiting for any news of their disappeared loved ones.
“I have relatives, I have my uncle,” he said. “I am still waiting for someone to send me a picture of him, his name, any piece of information on him.”
Re-emphasising his mixed feelings of joy and sadness as the fallen government’s prisons are broken open, Mugharbel said that “it is like someone losing a parent on their wedding day”.
Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye. All rights reserved. Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters.
Japanese firms are revamping their practices in a bid to grow their market share overseas.
Big Four Japanese firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto has joined its closest competitors on a rebrand drive
The firm has dropped ‘Matsumoto’ from its name and launched a foreign joint law enterprise
a structure which allows foreign advisers to hold equity in the firm’s partnership
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Bain's latest acquisition follows a string of hefty investments the private equity firm has made in Japan in recent months.
Morrison & Foerster and Big Four Japanese firm Mori Hamada are advising Bain Capital on the $3.3 billion acquisition of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC)
which is based in Osaka and traces its origins to a Japanese company founded in 1678
focuses on several priority therapeutic areas
The business employs over 5,000 people globally
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Sad news out of Mexico today (Feb. 15), as Realidad San Luis reports that Gran Hamada died recently in San Luis Potosí
No cause of death was mentioned; most online sources listed Hamada’s age as 74
Hamada came out of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling dojo — among the first to do so — and debuted for the promotion the same year it started, 1972. He then went on an excursion to Mexico, where he really left his mark on the business by linking the lucha libre scene to the puroresu one in his home country. Sometimes called “the Godfather of Lucharesu”, luchablog wrote on X/Twitter:
Maybe first Japanese wrestler to do an excursion to Mexico
Elevated the opinion of Japanese wrestling in Mexico
forever tying both wrestling scenes together
Blazed trail that Tiger Mask and [Jushin] Liger followed
Key figure in 1st Mexico promotion battle in decades
Hamada would go on to work for All-Japan and the Universal Wrestling Association
American audiences may have seen him wrestle on a PPV in the 90s
Hamada worked both the then-WWF’s In Your House: D-Generation X and ECW Barely Legal
where he partnered with Masato Yakushiji & The Great Sasuke against Dick Togo
both followed in their father’s footsteps — except they mostly work Mexico with occasionally visits to Japan
Xóchitl has largely retired but did wrestle for an independent promotion in Texas last year; Ayako is still active
Join us in keeping a good thought for them
His death was first reported by Realidad San Luis
No cause of death has been disclosed at this time
Hamada was among the first wrestlers to train in the NJPW dojo and later made his debut for the promotion in its inaugural year of 1972
He’s also one of the first Japanese wrestlers to train in lucha libre and integrate it into his own style of wrestling
he went on excursion to Mexico and would wrestle in both countries throughout his career
he wrestled for AJPW starting in 1981 and the Universal Wrestling Association beginning in 1979
He founded Universal Lucha Libre in 1990 and later worked with Michinoku Pro Wrestling in 1993
he appeared on two PPVs in the United States
performing at In Your House: D-Generation X and at ECW Barely Legal
LuchaBlog wrote of Hamada’s passing:
“Maybe first Japanese wrestler to do an excursion to Mexico
Blazed trail that Tiger Mask and Liger followed
Key figure in 1st Mexico promotion battle in decades.”
Hamada was over two-thirds of the way to induction into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Class of 2024
He received 42.5 percent of the vote last year
falling 17.5 percent short of the required 60 percent
Voices of Wrestling and LuchaBlog recorded a podcast focused on Hamada’s case for the WON Hall of Fame in October
and Cubs make the argument why Gran Hamada merits Hall of Fame inclusion.”
The podcast episode is available here
This really is heartbreaking to hear. We sadly knew the day was near. Such a wonderful career, Gran Hamada is a Japanese icon who came to Mexico City and became one of the greatest Luchadores ever, and then went back to Japan and brought Lucha Libre with him in the 90’s, and… https://t.co/5gTcwwzCUM pic.twitter.com/ByTqq4Lhx1
whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine
A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary
he has covered the industry for a decade and a half
On February 15, 2025, Realidad San Luis
broke the news that Japanese wrestling legend Hiroaki Hamada
better known by his ring name of Gran Hamada
with no cause of death being revealed at the time of writing
Hamada was one of the first trainees at the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo in Tokyo
being nicknamed "Little Hamada" due to his short stature
He would go on to be a regular part of NJPW's first set of events in 1972
where he would be thrown around by Tatsumi Fujinami for months on end
he was sent on an excursion to Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association due to his lack of size
but this would end up being a gamechanger for Hamada as he adapted quickly to the Lucha Libre style
and would be so adored by the Mexican fans that he would earn the name El Gran Hamada (which translates to The Great Hamada)
Hamada would become one of the true innovators of the junior heavyweight/cruiserweight style of wrestling
winning championships and tournaments in NJPW and UWA
Hamada would go on to found his own promotion
which even had a working relationship with WWE
with Hamada and Perro Aguayo becoming the first
While not known to make many appearances in the United States
he was part of history as he competed at Extreme Championship Wrestling's inaugural pay-per-view
but would spend the rest of his career in Mexico and Japan until his retirement in 2018
extends our condolences to Hiroaki Hamada's friends and family at this time
Social media has been flooded with tributes and expressions of grief from rights activists and the Syrian diaspora after a renowned Syrian activist
who had been tortured under Bashar al-Assad's government
was found dead in the notorious Sednaya prison on Monday
Mazen al-Hamada was found with visible signs of torture in the morgue of Harasta Hospital, which the government used to collect the bodies of those killed in the prison, known as a "human slaughterhouse"
before they were transferred to mass graves
Hundreds of social media users shared messages of mourning
with many stating they felt the international community had failed him
"Mazen, we all failed you. Mazen, I am so sorry, I am so sorry this world is so filthy. I am sorry your eyes never stopped tearing for all these years," wrote Celine Kasem
"The photo of his tortured body is enough to trigger a 1000 revolution [sic]. He will forever remain one of Syria’s bravest heroes," wrote another user
In a widely shared interview with the Syrian Emergency Task Force
Hamada had detailed the horrors he endured in Syria's detention centres and the government's systematic use of torture
Warning: The following image may cause distress
was martyred under torture in the Assad regime’s prisons
and there is no power nor strength except with God
His testimony resonated globally as he described beatings
starvation and relentless psychological abuse during his imprisonment
One user wrote: "His story has stuck with me since the day I heard it
I am distraught at the photo of Mazen Al Hamada tortured and killed
this is Assad and his regime and what they did to these innocent ppl
& you still have assadists who are defending the haywan bashar & others claiming sednaya prison is a lot “nicer” than American prisons
Originally from Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria
Hamada worked in the oil sector and was arrested several times during the early years of the Syrian uprising in 2011 and 2012
he dedicated his life to raising awareness about the government's rights abuses and the brutal tactics it used in prisons
He travelled across Europe and the United States, recounting the horrors he witnessed and endured, even participating in international efforts to prosecute the Assad government
Fuck Assad. I will never forget listening to the testimony of Mazen Al-Hamada, who detailed obscene abuse, including rectal torture, by the regime. He was imprisoned for protesting during the Arab Spring and spoke about how prisoners would be terrified of being transferred to the… pic.twitter.com/VdqImDQah5
Mazen described being hung from the ceiling by chains that left grooves in his wrists
and beatings and torture by guards who broke his ribs by jumping on his body and burnt his skin with cigarette butts
rape and being subjected to electric shocks
He returned to Syria in 2020 for unclear reasons. He said he had been "assured" that he was not on a government wanted list
But he was arrested upon his return and forcibly disappeared. There had been no further information about him until the fall of the Assad government on Sunday and the subsequent search operations in Sednaya
"Although Mazen al-Hamada's voice has been silenced, he still bears witness today to the brutality of the regime. His eyes underline every word he says," reflected one social media user
Others referenced Hamada's vow to hold the Syrian government accountable for its abuses
"I will not rest until I see them in court
no matter the price," he said in the Syrian Emergency Task Force interview
Some said they hoped to carry on his wishes
"Mazen had told his harrowing story of torture in cities around the world in the hopes of changing policy," said human rights lawyer Mai El-Sadany. "I pray we'll continue his journey."
The firm acts on some of Japan’s most prominent transactions, including Bain Capital's $3.3 billion pharma acquisition of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma.
Big Four Japanese firm Mori Hamada has bolstered its Tokyo office with the hiring of a veteran Morrison & Foerster corporate partner Stan Yukevich
Yukevich joins after more than 25 years at Morrison & Foerster Japan
He was previously an associate in the Los Angeles offices of Troop Steuber Pasich Reddick & Tobey and Skadden
Yukevich’s private practice spans general corporate mandates
joint ventures as well as private equity and venture capital investments
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Mazen al-Hamada had escaped to tell the world about regime’s torture before returning to Damascus
his tears as he described the depth of horrors he experienced
made him a symbol of the crimes the Assad regime committed against those who spoke out against it
Hamada was detained and tortured alongside tens of thousands of people after the 2011 uprising against Assad’s rule
“Mazen had endured torture so cruel, so unimaginable, that his retellings carried an almost otherworldly weight. When he spoke, it was as if he stared into the face of death itself, pleading with the angel of mortality for just a little more time,” wrote Hamada’s friend
the photographer and director Sakir Khader
He “became one of the most important witnesses against Assad’s regime”
Details of the industrial scale of detention and torture facilities run by the Syrian state are now surfacing after the overthrow of Assad
The Syrian network for human rights (SNHR) recorded 15,102 deaths caused by torture in prisons run by the regime between March 2011 and July this year
It said 100,000 more people were missing and thought to be detained
and some might be found now that prison populations have been set free
which tracks people who have been “forcibly disappeared”
broke down on live television this week as he said that all 100,000 people had probably “died under torture” in prison
Hamada was released in 2013 and granted asylum in the Netherlands in 2014
after which he began touring western capitals
bringing audiences to tears as he showed them his scars and described what he had endured at the hands of the Syrian authorities
View image in fullscreenPeople gather at Sednaya prison in Damascus on 9 December in the hope of finding their loved ones
Photograph: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty ImagesIn the documentary Syria’s Disappeared he wept on camera as he said: “The law will hold them to account
I will not rest until I take them to court and get justice.”
But, his friends and supporters suggested, Hamada grew overwhelmed by the world’s failure to act. Sara Afshar, who directed Syria’s Disappeared, shared a picture of him receiving a standing ovation for his testimony. “He moved people, and he spoke over and over again. Why did the world not act? Why?” she asked.
Then, in a decision that terrified and confused his friends and rippled through the community of dissident exiles, Hamada disappeared in early 2020 after seemingly deciding to return to Syria.
That someone who had experienced the worst of Syria’s torture chambers would choose to return led many to believe he was enticed to do by elements of Assad’s regime to prevent him from speaking out.
“Assad bears the primary guilt, but the Dutch government is jointly responsible for his death,” said Khader, who believed the Dutch asylum system had failed his friend.
Dutch authorities, he claimed, overlooked Hamada’s suffering and cut off his support. “He saw returning to Damascus as his only option,” Khader said.
The Dutch foreign ministry detailed Hamada’s case, saying he had “returned to Syria” and his whereabouts were unknown, in a report about Syria a year later, but did not comment on what drove him to leave. The Netherlands was one of the countries to announce this week that it would stop processing Syrian asylum and residence applications.
Hamada disappeared soon after arriving in Damascus, amid indications that he had once again been detained by the state. His friends, family and supporters had held out hope that he could be found alive and be able to walk free from the sprawling prison system along with thousands of others.
But the discovery of his body showed that Hamada had died at the hands of those he once escaped, in Sednaya, considered a byword for the cruelty of Assad’s prison systems. The jail has been described by Amnesty International as a “human slaughterhouse”, a place where thousands were tortured, raped, and killed in regular mass executions.
Rebel forces said they found 40 corpses piled in the morgue at Sednaya showing signs of torture, with an image circulating online showing Hamada among them.
The discovery of his body indicated he was probably killed shortly before prison inmates were liberated by insurgents. Khader described his friend’s suffering as “the unimaginable agony of a man who had risen from the dead to fight again, only to be condemned to a slow death in the west”.
Bain Capital has been remarkably active in its investments in Japan in recent years.
Ropes & Gray and Big Four Japanese firm Nishimura & Asahi are advising Bain Capital on its $634 million purchase of Japanese aircraft component manufacter
according to a person with knowledge of the deal
JAMCO is being represented by another Big Four Japanese practice
Takafumi Goto and Yusuke Kobayashi leading the deal team
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Legal genAI pioneer Harvey has struck a deal with leading Japanese law firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (MHM)
believed to be its first in the world’s fourth largest economy
MHM will also make use of the new Vault feature for large-scale document review
The news comes a week after Harvey announced it had raised an additional $100 million in an investment round led by Alphabet Inc-backed venture capital firm GV
While MHM is one of the largest firms in Japan with 1,600 employees and 16 offices throughout Japan and the Asia-Pacific region
it’s an especially significant move because legal tech companies have made little impact in the legal market here
with one notable exception being home-grown LegalOn
a legal AI company focused on inhouse teams and which interestingly also works with MHM
MHM will work with Harvey to enhance its services to clients including through ‘further harnessing genAI for document review
Artificial Lawyer has taken part in several events in Japan over the years and despite a burgeoning interest in innovation among some firms
generally speaking legal tech has made little impact in the still very traditional local legal culture of the bengoshi
but good for many other legal tech companies that may want to grow globally
said: ‘We intend to further integrate cutting-edge technology into our practice by entering into a strategic partnership with Harvey
the leading generative AI platform for the legal industry
Our commitment to implement AI across our offices enhances our legal services and adds value for our clients and our people
and we look forward to collaborating with Harvey to explore the opportunities for AI.’
added: ‘Partnering with MHM is an important step for us as we expand into the Japanese and Asia-Pacific markets
This partnership is built on our shared values of excellence
We’re grateful for MHM’s trust and look forward to working together to offer outstanding AI-enabled legal solutions in the region.’
LegalOn signed a deal with MHM in April this year to work with its LegalOn Cloud whereby legal content such as templates and guidance on M&A and international transactions will be provided to corporate clients
LegalOn Cloud customers maintain various systems such as matter management system
and a system for legal document formats prepared by law firms
back in 2020 another top Japanese law firm
invested in legal tech ‘app store’ Reynen Court
although the company in 2022 experienced a crisis and saw most of its staff depart
if you followed Reynen Court’s growth and then decline
you may be intrigued to hear that its founder
started a new business last year – Brighter Seas
which is the North Sea’s first large scale oyster restoration project
Klein is truly an irrepressible entrepreneur.)
some engagement by the legal giants such as LexisNexis
the interest in a legal AI company focused on law firms may well trigger more buy-in for other companies that want to make the trip out to Tokyo
This site hopes they all do because then one day we can have a Legal Innovators conference in Japan
which would be amazing and this site’s founder would have a good reason to keep going back
the legal tech world needs more large law firms to sell to
The UK and US have a limited number of ‘BigLaw’ scale firms
If you want to build a very high revenue legal tech business
that caters for high volumes of equally high value work
then you’re going to have to go global – and the addition of Japan’s leading firms will certainly help in this regard
Litera Buys FileTrail Info Governance Company
Paxton Hits 94% Accuracy On Stanford GenAI Benchmark
plus info on Artificial Lawyer and 3rd party events
Hundreds of mourners joined a funeral march through Damascus on Thursday for Mazen al-Hamada
a Syrian activist who fled to Europe but returned to Syria in 2020 and was imprisoned upon arrival
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shape branding and foster trust through innovative marketing initiatives
MORE STORIES LIKE THISFrom Receptionist to General Manager: Caitlin Lopez’s Growth Journey at United Water Restoration Group Long Island
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According to Realidad San Luis
which is a local news outlet in San Luis Potosí
Hamada was part of the first group of wrestlers to train in the NJPW’s dojo and then later make his debut for the promotion when in debuted in 1972
Hamada is also one of the very first Japanese wrestlers to train in lucha libre and to incorporate that style of wrestling in is own performances in the ring
He wrestled in both Mexico and and Japan throughout his pro wresting career
Hamada worked in the Universal Wrestling Association beginning in 1979 and AJPW in 1981
He would go on to be the founder of Universal Lucha Libre in 1990
He also made two appearances in the United States back in 1997
He wrestled at the WWE at the In Your House: D-Generation X PPV and ECW’s Barley Legal PPV
Source: F4WOnline
Wrestleview sends it’s condolences to the family
friends and fans of Gran Hamada during this difficult and sad time
House of Councillors member Satoshi Hamada has called for Japan to start considering a national Bitcoin reserve
As more countries are seeking a Bitcoin reserve
a Japanese lawmaker has urged his government to do the same
Hamada discussed the proposition with the country’s House of Councillors to investigate how other nations are starting their own Bitcoin reserves
his first name is the same as that of Bitcoin’s anonymous creator
Hamada’s proposal directly referenced US officials and crypto supporters who are trying to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the country
He claims replicating the move would be a strong move for markets
「米国等が進めているビットコイン準備金導入の動きの把握状況等に関する質問主意書」 pic.twitter.com/n0I0G3RucM
“I think this issue should be talked about
and I would like to hear the government’s opinion,” said Hamada in the translated statement
“Should Japan start converting some of its foreign reserves into cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin
Japan’s discussions about a national Bitcoin reserve follow similar moves by Russia
The topic has grabbed global attention thanks to Bitcoin’s price hitting a record of over $103,000 earlier this month
Hamada also mentioned the US’s plans for a strategic Bitcoin reserve on social media platform X
Despite still having one of the largest GDPs in the world
The country fell from third behind Germany
then setting up a national Bitcoin reserve could be good for crypto investors
Hamada is a member of a political party that holds only two seats in Japan’s parliament
but his vision is likely to see some support in its house
the leader of Japan’s Democratic Party for the People
He recently promised to cut the crypto tax in the country if re-elected
Japan’s new prime minister could hinder crypto promotion in the country
He supports accommodative monetary policy and the use of taxes due to his concerns about deflation
From Zero to Web3 Pro: Your 90-Day Career Launch Plan
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Which language are you studying at the college of arts and sciences and why did you choose it
I am studying Spanish at URI for a couple of reasons
I went to a Spanish daycare until I was three
I reconnected with Spanish and fell in love with the language
especially because of its similarities to Arabic
I learned to appreciate the language and the diverse cultures that speak it which pushed me to continue my studies in college
I believe that being multilingual opens up many opportunities in both my professional and personal life.
What program/school did you participate in
I spent one semester at the Universidad de Cantabria
taking Electrical Engineering courses entirely in Spanish
along with a Spanish language course to improve my proficiency
I completed a six month internship with Antenna Systems Solutions
a telecommunications engineering company in Santander as Radio Frequency Engineer Intern
What is your favorite memory from your year abroad
just living in Spain and fully immersing myself in the culture was amazing
but I would have to say celebrating the local holidays in Santander
like Noche de San Juan or Semana Grande de Santander
I was able to go to these events with friends that I made in Spain so they’re memories I will never forget. Also
What is a challenge you overcame while abroad
It was hard to get comfortable with the language
Another was adjusting to Spain’s slower pace—I’m used to a faster pace like in the US
And let’s not forget the late night dinners – they were tough to get used to
What would you tell a student considering this opportunity
I’d say go for it and embrace the opportunity of living in a different country
Studying abroad is a chance to step out of your comfort zone
and get first hand experience of what they teach you in the classroom
some things are best learned outside in the real world
It’s an experience that will stay with you forever and will teach you a lot about yourself
How will this experience inform the rest of your time at URI
This experience has given me a broader perspective on the world
making me more globally aware as both a person and an engineer
which will be valuable in my future career
I plan to apply what I’ve learned abroad to my studies at URI
bringing a more global outlook to my work and interactions
I’ll use these experiences to contribute to the URI community
sharing advice and encouraging others to study abroad to explore new cultures and opportunities
Spend your senior year abroad immersed in engineering
you do not just learn global engineering–you live it
Copyright © 2025 University of Rhode Island | University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA | 1.401.874.1000
URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action.
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"@id": "https://www.theworldfolio.com//interviews/constructions-for-better-future-with-hamada/6723/" }
"headline": "Constructions for a Better Future With Hamada"
"description": "As the domestic market decreases and looks to downsize
Hamada look to the international market where they provide environmentally conscious constructions for the infrastructure and chemical projects
As the domestic market decreases and looks to downsize
It’s been about 50 years since Japan’s construction boom occurred
and we’re now sitting at a time when many infrastructure projects are aging and in need of maintenance
Under what has been termed a scrap-and-build policy
new builds in cities such as Tokyo and Osaka continue to grow
when the full extent of Japan’s declining population will be realized
What is your assessment of Japan’s current construction market and its needs for the years to come
I believe that will increase for buildings
when we look at waste treatment facilities
but we have been providing life-extending construction
To touch upon the demographic issue you mentioned
the Japanese population is currently 125 million
and we expect that to be 100 million by 2050 and perhaps 80 million by the end of the century
This presents two problems for Japanese companies
One is obviously the shrinking domestic market
There is expected to be an eleven million worker deficit by 2040
We’re seeing different strategies for dealing with this
we’re seeing companies turn to AI automation and look for more human resources
A common word we’re hearing is internationalization
What are the challenges this creates for your company
and how much of your solution is about internationalizing
we have been using a headhunting company to source new workers and to negotiate individually to welcome them as employees
we have also started doing recruitment promotion wrapping on the bus that is running inside the city
We have been acquiring companies with plants so we can gain more people
we are negotiating with four companies regarding M&A
We also recruit and welcome workers from Vietnam as well as those who are from Vietnam and are already living in Japan
We have seen the Japanese yen experience some major fluctuations against foreign currencies
This creates questions and factors that lead to concerns about whether Japan can be a more or less attractive destination for foreign workers
and what strategies are you planning to use to make your company and Japan a more attractive place for foreign workers
I think they will come to Japan regardless of the exchange fluctuation
You mentioned your mergers and acquisitions
Are you expecting to use that strategy on the international stage
what does an international partner of choice look like to Hamada
If we are to have any partnerships overseas
it will be in Vietnam because we have a lot of Vietnamese workers
so if we can collaborate with a chemical plant in Vietnam
the engineers are considered workers outside Japan
Foreign workers also cannot come to Japan for the same reason
The only way we can probably deal with this issue is to use a local company for the construction
We’ve spoken about the shrinking market related to the population decline
not in terms of employees but in terms of business opportunities
There are fewer opportunities in cities where maintenance would be enough for the existing facilities
the reduction in the population is so fast
that there needs to be a new system rebuilt because it doesn’t make sense to maintain the current long water pipes or electric lines to support the small population
The reconstruction of a smaller system using groundwater or river water would be required so that it will apply to smaller towns
A big power plant with very long electric lines will be a waste
we could use solar power generation or a power generation that will be suitable for a smaller capacity
maybe there will be an opportunity to use water purification technology for water from the rivers
so that the facility can be built by our company and that would be sufficient for the regional demands
so I don’t think the people in the local regions are into the convenience lifestyle like people in the cities
but I think that not as many medical care services are needed or demanded in the local area
We’re not hoping to live a very long life or enjoy fancy food
so I think bringing everyone to the city would be a drastic or extreme idea
You mentioned that your company is looking to hire foreign workers
What would you say is the benefit of working at Hamada
and what type of solution can you provide to a foreign worker who comes to Japan to work for your company
The greatest benefit we can offer is that they can learn the technology
including creating the machinery and equipment
Sustainability is a core priority for your group
which is exemplified by your Astec subsidiary and your environmental initiatives through the innovative development of water purification and recycling technologies
Can you explain to us what Astec is doing in terms of sustainability and what initiatives you are implementing to minimize your environmental impact
Sewage purification has been Astec’s project in the past
they are trying to use collected food waste to create methane gas and then generate electricity from it
We are aiming to put this into practice within two years
This work is currently happening in Toyooka city in Hyogo prefecture
You also have a water facilities division and an electrical instrument division
Which of these divisions do you believe has the greatest potential for market growth
I think environmental work has the biggest growth potential
and we are investing in it to support their initiatives by collecting cash we earn from other businesses
we are investing JPY 4 billion in the biogas power generation business
Do you see yourself expanding into other segments
I don’t think there will be a great increase in demand for the petroleum chemistry area in Japan
so we would like to gain more market share
Although we are reducing the number of engineers because of the declining population
so we would like to win in the market when everyone is getting weak
Another area of possible growth is our Nagaoka company
which creates screens within the plant reactor
It’s something like a basket that is used for the water purification of the groundwater
it screens the groundwater and uses a technology with no chemicals to purify the water to make it potable
This is a less expensive initiative for a small town
but it all comes down to government policy
The growth potential is with our subsidiaries
You mentioned the struggles you and your competitors faced in the plant industry
Your plant division comprises four key departments for construction
What synergies are you able to generate between these departments
and what makes your plant division the preferred option for the industry
We have a design team that is embedded with the customers
we build the chemistry and other equipment
We can also create piping and machinery inside the factory at the customer’s site
We have people who can meet the special needs of our customers
and we have very close relationships with them
so we work closely together to build the plant
We can also provide maintenance and delivery service
as well as warehouse management of the products created at the customer plant
You also have government partnerships and major business industry leader customers
What future projects and partnerships are on the horizon for Hamada
We have already acquired some of our former partner companies like Nagaoka
so we are exchanging human resources among our group of companies
our biggest customers are Daicel and Nippon Shokubai
Some of our acquired former partners had big customers
and we have gained many other customers through M&A
a lot of our affiliates are struggling with a reduced workforce even though they have business opportunities
so we are exchanging workers to make full use of our resources as a group and to cooperate with each other
Your notable achievements include the seismic reinforcement water purification reservoir in Osaka Kashiwara City
You also enhanced the prefectural water supply receiving facility in Itami City
How do you successfully integrate construction and civil engineering to improve infrastructure
One reason we win a lot of the water purification facility construction work is because they are mainly government tenders
companies are screened for points regarding their experience in plant machinery and construction
those companies with machine construction experience are large listed companies
so we have an advantage in getting water purification facility construction work
You entered China in 2012 and Vietnam in 2020
which countries have Hamada identified as being in need of future growth
Nippon Shokubai has plants in Indonesia and Belgium and their chemical plant is unique and specialized in a way nothing like any other company
so we have a niche knowhow about this area
and our customer is requesting us to go to those countries
We have sent supervisors several times in the past
and there may be a possibility of purchasing some companies in those countries to oversee those plants
Your company is celebrating its 118th anniversary
Let’s imagine that we will come back in two years for your 120th anniversary to interview you again
What dreams and goals would you like to achieve over those next two years
and how would you like your company to be seen in the eyes of the global market
I want the name Hamada to be known around the world
For more information, please visit their website at: https://www.hamada-inc.co.jp/english/
For more information, please visit their website at: https://www.hamada-inc.co.jp/english/
industrial and financial news about global economies
with a focus on understanding them from within
Japanese producer Hamada Syuzou has unveiled its second expression in the Chill Green series
Following the launch of its botanical spirit Chill Green Spicy & Citrus, in February 2023, the Ichikikushikino City-based producer from the Kagoshima Prefecture has released the series’ second expression: Chill Green Bitter & Tropical
Building on the success of the initial bottle
Hamada Syuzou aims to lead the shochu industry into a new era
expanding the customer base and creating more ways to enjoy Japanese spirits
Chill Green Bitter & Tropical is made with barley shochu and an uncommon hop variety
which is said to account for only 1% of global production
The hops as a botanical give the shochu notes of passion fruit and crisp citrus with a pleasant bitterness
Combined with the company’s unique production techniques
the result is an expression with a sweet citrus aroma and bitterness reminiscent of pink grapefruit
Hamada recommends two ways to enjoy Chill Green with soda water
For a more pronounced pink grapefruit flavour
the company suggests mixing one part Bitter & Tropical with two parts soda water
a one-to-one ratio will emphasise the passion fruit flavours in the spirit
Offered at 25% ABV, the new Chill Green Spicy & Citrus is available in 720ml and 1,8-litre bottles. The expression will be available for overseas shipments starting this month (February). Both Chill Green Otsurui-type shochus (meaning those derived from a single distillation) are also now available from Hamada Syuzou’s website, along with a wide selection of spirits
Chill Green botanical shochu is designed to fill the gap in the market that resonates with a new generation of consumers
As Hamada’s marketing strategist Nobuya Tanaka explains: “As the public’s interest and focus on food changes fast and unpredictably
we explored concepts that would resonate with the wants of the next generation of consumers
we identified key values that these consumers share
It was then that we first laid out our new blueprint for making shochu to grow the market base
“Our first release, Chill Green Spicy & Citrus, has garnered recognition from new consumer segments and has gradually penetrated the market. With this new addition, we are confident that the value of shochu will be further augmented and an expansion of the worldview of botanical barley shochu will result.”
Finding the right hops for the shochu from more than 300 different varieties across the globe wasn’t an easy task. Chikori Ogata, product R&D lab specialist, elaborates: “The aromas and tastes of hops vary widely—some can be herbal, while others are fruity. It took a great deal of effort to find the right hop among many, identify the concept of the series, and create something that matches our vision of what botanical barley shochu would be.
“The most important feature in our botanical barley shochu is the non-traditional flavour that has never been seen before in the industry. It was achieved by Hamada’s original Botani-cohol Method and Refined Blend by choosing the finest shochus from the warehouses. The choice of hops determines which method we use to maximise flavours in the mashing phase. Through trial and error, we have found a way to get the most out of the Galaxy hops.”
The judges commented: “The idea of putting shochu in a wine bottle is interesting. Furthermore, the label, which emphasises the flavour, differs from the traditional shochu design, creating a new product image. The entire package is unified by making use of the colour tone of the bottle, making it a cool and put-together product.”
Hamada will showcase its products at the BCB Singapore 2025 from 2-3 March in stands A-08 and A-10. Furthermore, the company will present Chill Green at various events in Shanghai, Taiwan and South Korea.
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