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

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nearly one and one-quarter percent to finish at 9,061.

The dollar was selling at 76.85 yen, a gain of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

The Taipei market ended its session Thursday at 7,758, an increase of nearly one-quarter of one percent .