It is with utmost respect that His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado, former Honorary Patron of the Japan Football Association, who loved football and, indeed, all sports, has been specially inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame.

His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado

His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado took office as the Honorary Patron of JFA on 1 April 1987.
His Imperial Highness consistently provided guidance to Japanese football during an era of major changes, including the bid to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, kick-off of the J.League in 1993, and the subsequent hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™.
In response to His Imperial Highness's words that “cultivating the youth will lead to the development of Japanese football”, JFA created “a competition for the U-15 and U-18 categories in which both schools and clubs participate and determine the true champions of Japan”. Since 1990, young players have competed for the highest honour of winning the U-15 and U-18 Prince Takamado Trophies, and these competitions have been producing excellent players over the years.
In 1995, JFA established the “Fair Play Award,” for all national competitions hosted by JFA in order to promote the spirt of “fair play” upon which His Imperial Highness placed such importance. His Highness continually taught us that one should have pride in striving to reach the top levels of world football, but always in the spirit of fair play, and this philosophy has been passed down from generation to generation.
His Imperial Highness had close relations with key figures of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the Confederations, and member associations of FIFA, and promoted international goodwill through football as well as paved the way to globalise Japanese football. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, which was the first-ever jointly hosted FIFA World Cup™, His Imperial Highness devoted much time and effort to ensuring the success of the Competition and working for the goodwill of the two countries. His Imperial Highness’s visit to the Republic of Korea, as the Honorary Patron of the JFA, was the first official visit by a member of the Japanese Imperial Family since World War II. His Imperial Highness watched 18 of the 64 matches held in the two countries and played an active role in bridging the gap between Japan and the Republic of Korea by means of interacting through sports, while also making great contributions in embracing cultural-exchange activities between the two countries.
On 21 November 2002, five months after the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, His Imperial Highness passed away at the age of 47.
In order to carry on the legacy of His Imperial Highness, JFA established the JFA Academy Fukushima in 2006, a football institution for developing internationally-minded individuals through football. Since then, JFA has opened academies in Kumamoto Uki, Sakai, and Imabari with the aim of creating individuals who are capable of becoming global community leaders.
In addition, in memory of His Imperial Highness's outstanding virtue and to convey his achievements to future generations, JFA YUME Field bears his imperial title in its official name -“Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field” and a statue of His Imperial Highness has been erected in his honour.