Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 259.21 points, or 0.68 percent, from Wednesday at 38,211.01, its best close since July 31.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 6.54 points, or 0.25 percent, higher at 2,671.40.
Stocks were lifted by heavyweight technology issues that tracked overnight gains in their U.S. counterparts with expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve is on course to begin cutting interest rates in September, analysts said.
Meanwhile, gains were capped as investors awaited remarks by the Bank of Japan chief Kazuo Ueda at a parliamentary committee Friday over recent volatility on the stock market, brokers said.
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