The Nikkei 225 stock average came close to a 15-year high Thursday, bolstered by optimism about the economy.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange's key index ended up 65.62 points, or 0.36 percent, from Wednesday at 18,264.79, its highest close since May 2000. It briefly rose to as high as 18,322.50, the highest intraday level since mid-2000.
The Topix index, which covers all first-section issues, finished 12.26 points, or 0.83 percent, higher at 1,494.93.