Japan's Nikkei closed higher on Thursday in volatile trade as defense stocks and companies linked to tourism demand surged in the country after data showed a rise in tourist numbers in October.

 

The benchmark Nikkei <.N225> was up 0.7 percent at 21,646.55. The broader TOPIX index <.TOPX> was up 0.8 percent at 1,628.96 points, though trading was poor, with only 1.2 billion shares traded, the lowest level in a month.

 

Japanese markets closed on Friday due to a public holiday as investors looked to the White Friday sales following the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, a time when wages are rising and consumer confidence in the United States is rising.

 

Nissan was the focus of attention, with a willingness to hold a board meeting later on Thursday to isolate Chairman Carlos Ghosn after the shocking arrest of the company's once-admired president, which could mark the beginning of a long period of fog in its alliance with Renault, 19 years old.

 

Attracting tourists, such as cosmetic companies, attracted buyers after Japan's National Tourism Organization reported that tourist arrivals in October rose 1.8 percent year-on-year to 2.646 million after falling in the previous two months.

 

Shares in Shiseido rose 3.7 percent and Cozorp rose 4.5 percent. Matsumoto Kiyoshi Pharmaceutical Department rose 3.6 percent.

 

Defense stocks such as railroads, real estate companies and food processing companies outperformed the market. Central Japan's shares rose 2.8 percent and Mitsubishi Estate rose 1.8 percent.

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 1.4 percent after the New York Times reported that the US prosecution was investigating the regulations used by the bank to track money laundering.