Japan's core consumer price index rose 0.1 percent in fiscal 2005 from the previous year for the first increase in eight years, the government said Friday.

The core nationwide CPI, excluding perishables, came to 97.9 for the fiscal year that ended March 31, against the base of 100 for 2000, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said in a preliminary report.

The annual core CPI last rose in fiscal 1998, with a 0.2 percent gain, after which it posted successive declines. It fell 0.2 percent in fiscal 2004.