Emperor Akihito on Tuesday night praised Hungarians for their resistance movement under the country's post-World War II communist regime.
"Liberalization gradually progressed because of the strong will of the people," he said in a speech at a dinner hosted by Hungarian President Ferenc Madl.
He also said Hungarians continued efforts to achieve independence despite hardships from repeated foreign invasions in the country's history.
Hungarians were particularly beset by difficulties after the war, he said, noting the 1956 Budapest uprising against the regime.
The regime ended its 40-year one-party rule in 1989, and a democratically elected government was launched in 1990.
The Emperor and Empress Michiko were in Hungary on the final leg of their two-week tour of four European nations.
Before arriving in Hungary, the couple visited the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria. They will return to Japan on Saturday.