The key Nikkei stock index ended marginally higher Wednesday after hitting an eight-month intraday high.
The benchmark Nikkei-225 index gained 2.12 points, or 0.02 percent, from Tuesday to 10,512.80, after briefly climbing to 10, 576.51, its highest level since May 13 last year.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 2.70 points, or 0.29 percent, to 929.64.
Trading volume on the main section increased to 2,510.13 million shares from Tuesday's 2,112.74 million.
The TSE's Second Section index added 2.58 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,268.82 on a volume of 37.60 million shares.
On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term March Nikkei 225 index futures contract was up 10 points to 10,520.