Japan's Nikkei rose to a near two-week high on Wednesday after Wall Street rebounded, while investors were cautious ahead of a US Federal Reserve meeting statement due out later in the day.
The Nikkei share average ended 2.7 per cent higher at 17,163.92, the highest closing level since January 14.
The broader Topix gained 3.0 per cent to 1,400.70 with all of its 33 sub-indexes in positive territory.
The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 rose 2.9 per cent to 12,629.20.
The Nikkei share average touched its highest level since January 15 and was 2.3 per cent higher at 17,092.33 during midmorning trade.
"In the year so far the market has been characterised not only by sharp selling off but also by volatility and chaotic movements," said Stefan Worrall, director of Japan equity sales at Credit Suisse.
"Today's market action is encouraging, as was Monday's, but it doesn't necessarily signal that this is the end of the selling or the beginning of the rebound."
Market participants noted investors were looking toward the outcome of policy meetings from the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday and the Bank of Japan on Friday.