The Emperor met Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the first time at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday, the Imperial Household Agency said.
The agency said the Emperor talked with Vajpayee for about 20 minutes before proceeding to a luncheon in his honor.
Among those who attended the luncheon were the Crown Prince; Prince Tomohito, the eldest son of Prince Mikasa; Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi; and Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka.
Prince Tomohito is a cousin of the Emperor.
Vajpayee arrived in Japan on Friday for a five-day visit and spent his first three days in Osaka.