Tokyo shares closed the morning session higher Thursday on an overnight rise of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and a weaker yen that further depreciated against the U.S. dollar at upper 114 yen level after briefly hitting 115 yen line for the first time in seven years.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 59.29 points, or 0.35 percent, from Wednesday to 16,996.61.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 0.45 point, or 0.03 percent, to 1,372. 21.
Gainers were led by fishery, services and automaker issues.