Nikkei 225 closes up 1.7% at 63,268.37

The dispersion matters more than the direction: the Kospi's gain was roughly double the Nikkei's and nearly five times the Topix's, so this was not a uniform regional bid but a Korea-led session with Japan's rally concentrated in large-cap index names rather than the broader market. That gap between the Nikkei and a comparatively muted Topix suggests breadth lagged the headline move. Whether the Kospi's outperformance reflects Korea-specific catalysts or simply higher beta to a regional risk-on swing is the open question, and the next session's breadth will say more than the index levels themselves.