The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 1.85% to close at 41,820, while the broader Topix Index rose 1.21% to 3,024 on Friday, with the latter hitting a fresh all-time high as strong corporate earnings drove market momentum. SoftBank Group soared more than 10% after swinging back to profitability in the first quarter, supported in part by gains from its artificial intelligence investments. Sony Group climbed over 3.5%, extending a 4.1% rise in the previous session, after lifting its full-year operating profit forecast. Toyota Motor also advanced 3.5% despite cutting its profit outlook due to US tariffs. Meanwhile, Tokyo’s chief trade negotiator said the US government had pledged to fine-tune overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods to prevent some products from being taxed twice. Elsewhere, minutes from the Bank of Japan’s July meeting showed policymakers remain split on the timing and pace of future rate hikes.