Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, rebounded for the first time in four business days by ending up 89.13 points, or 0.27 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 33,377.42.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 14.75 points, or 0.62 percent, higher at 2,393.54.
The yen fell to the mid-144 yen range against the dollar in the foreign exchange market, boosting investor sentiment and leading to buying in export-related stocks such as automobiles.
However, market watchers here pointed out that ahead of the scheduled release of the U.S. employment statistics for December, increasing profit-taking moves towards the close narrowed the gains.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by securities house, bank and real estate issues.
Issues that gained outpaced those that declined by 841 to 777, while 39 ended the day unchanged.
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