The nation's economy expanded 0.5 percent in the April-June quarter, up for the first time in five quarters, on the back of strong performance by exports, government data showed Friday.

The Cabinet Office also released revised gross domestic product figures for the previous quarter showing no growth during the January-March term, down from a preliminary report of 1.4 percent growth.

Although the real April-June GDP rose at an annual rate of 1.9 percent, the data for the two quarters indicate economic recovery during the first six months of the calendar year was far weaker than previously thought, analysts said.