In the summer of 1999 when Prince and Princess Takamado visited the University of Alberta, their program included an introduction to the Centre for the Teaching of Japanese Language and Culture (Japan Centre). After the untimely death of His Imperial Highness, President Fraser discussed with Princess Takamado the desire of the University of Alberta to honor Prince Takamado through the renaming of the Centre, and received her permission to proceed.

On June 10, 2004, the Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching and Research were formally established at the University of Alberta.

Established in 1996, the goal of the Centre is to have a significant impact on the way Japanese language and culture is taught in North America. The mandate for the Centre is to provide excellence in the teaching of Japanese language and culture to future professionals in a variety of fields including humanities, social sciences, fine arts, business, education, engineering, science, and health sciences.

The Prince Takamado Japan Centre brings together teachers, students and resources from all parts of the community. It is currently housed in space within the Department of East Asian Studies in the Faculty of Arts. The Centre focuses on professional development programs, in addition to undergraduate and graduate programs. The Centre was created on an innovative model for the effective training of teachers of Japanese language and culture. At present there are four faculty members actively involved with the Centre; three are members in the Department of East Asian Studies and one in the Faculty of Education.