Hamada Shouko got her start as a race queen while still in high school in 2003. As with most race queens, her pictures were readily available on her amateur photographer’s website. The same year, she got the role of a regular character on the TV drama Tenpai. In 2005 Hamada was chosen as Japan’s Telegenic of the Year (with Ogura Yuko preceding her).
She has been compared more than once to fellow gravure idol Nakagawa Shouko. Their first names are the same, they are said to look alike, and even had the same nickname (although Nakagawa is now called “Shoukotan”). (more…)