Personal life
Being from Osaka, he speaks in the kansai dialect; however, he uses a standard dialect when talking to his children. His hobbies are golf and baseball. His comedy partner Matsumoto quit smoking in 2003, while he himself is still a heavy smoker.
Although he has always disliked animals, he later became attached to the family dog. In a March 2007 episode of Gaki no Tsukai, when asked what he would save first in his house if an earthquake occurred, his reply was "the dog."
In June 2014, he was revealed to be having an affair with gravure idol Maiko Kikkawa. The affair had lasted for 3 years before its discovery. Hamada wrote a public apology, which his wife accepted.
In 2017 Masatoshi dressed in blackface as Eddie Murphy from the film Beverly Hills Cop for the 2017 New Year's Eve special of Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
In 2023, a 24-year-old esthetician, known as A-san, claimed she had a "sugar dating" relationship with Masatoshi Hamada in 2018–2019. A-san said they met through a mutual acquaintance and had several secret meetings, during which Hamada provided financial support. The claim surfaced after reports of Hamada's alleged separation from his wife, Natsumi Ogawa.
Hamada has denied the separation reports, addressing them publicly on a radio show, but rumors suggest the couple has been living separately for some time.
On March 10, 2025, Yoshimoto Kogyo announced Hamada's temporary hiatus due to poor health, citing "physical discomfort" since late 2024.
