A number of Japanese firms are expected to report sharp gains in profits for the third straight year when they announce their earnings for the business year that ended March 31.

The ongoing recovery in the Japanese economy is being supported by the corporate sectors, and while public attention tends to focus on blue-chip companies in the manufacturing sector, such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Canon Inc., the nonmanufacturing sectors are starting to play an increasingly important role in Japan's economy.

Today, they account for about 64 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, 81 percent of the companies, and 69 percent of the jobs.