Japanese markets closed higher Thursday, while the U.S. dollar is higher against the Japanese yen.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish at 9,467.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.08 yen, a gain of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

The Taipei market closed at 9,001, a loss of nearly one-tenth of one percent .