In a sign of strengthening economic revival, machinery orders jumped to ¥819.3 billion in August, the highest since 2008, when the world was beset by a financial crisis.
Orders excluding those for ships and power generation equipment rose 5.4 percent from the previous month, more than double the 2.5 percent median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 28 economists.
While large bookings can make the numbers volatile, Credit Suisse Group AG. said Thursday's data confirm an "upward trend" in capital spending.