Reflecting the stock market's climbing fortunes, initial public offerings in Japan will rise for a fifth consecutive year to 77 in 2014, up from 54 last year, according to data compiled by the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

That's the most since 121 companies went public in 2007, and market experts say the trend will likely continue.

To compare the annual figures, the numbers do not include new listings on the Tokyo PRO Market for professional investors.

Information technology firms led in IPOs this year, but some of the biggest deals involved companies in other industries, such as media and human resources firm Recruit Holdings Co. and railway and hotel operator Seibu Holdings Inc.

About 70 percent of the new listings this year involved companies based in Tokyo. There are hopes next year will see more IPOs for companies in other parts of Japan.

New listings in 2015 will likely reach "around 100," said Keiji Kuramoto, deputy manager of equities underwriting at Nomura Securities Co.

Among the major IPOs expected next year are gigantic Japan Post Holdings Co.