Date of birth: Oct. 21, 1955

LDP faction: Nonaffiliated

Electoral district: Lower House; Chiba No. 12 (fifth term)

Hamada, the son of outspoken former Lower House member Koichi "Hamako" Hamada, is known as an expert on security issues.

After graduating from Senshu University in Tokyo and studying at a college in the United States, Hamada cut his political teeth in the office of then Finance Minister Michio Watanabe.

He later served as first secretary for his father.

Hamada was appointed parliamentary secretary of the former Defense Agency in 1998 by Keizo Obuchi, and deputy chief of the agency in 2003 under the administration of Junichiro Koizumi.

Hamada has said that his mission is to make Japan a more comfortable country for people to live in.

Hamada started the rock 'n' roll band Gi!nz with other lawmakers and uses it to give charity concerts. His other hobbies include golf and watching sports.