Nikkei 225 rises 1.9%, Topix gains 0.6% at morning close

The gap between the Nikkei 225's 1.9% gain and the Topix's 0.6% move points to a narrow, large-cap-led advance rather than broad participation across the Japanese market. That dispersion matters because it suggests the morning's strength was concentrated in a handful of heavyweight names rather than reflecting a uniform shift in sentiment. Whether the Topix catches up — or the Nikkei's lead fades — is the open question for the session's second half.