Japanese stocks extended their rise into a fifth day on Friday thanks to strength on Wall Street, but gains were capped as investors refrained from taking big positions before a long weekend.
The Nikkei share average edged up 0.3 per cent to 20,650.92, the highest closing level in three weeks.
For the week, the benchmark jumped 4.4 per cent, the biggest weekly gain since last October. The broader Topix gained 0.1 per cent to 1,662.94 in thin trade, with only 1.873 billion shares changing hands, the lowest level in a month.
The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 added 0.2 per cent to 15,022.34.