Shanghai stocks Monday ended higher for the first time in nine sessions and Hong Kong shares snapped a four-session losing streak, as bargain buyers lapped up beaten-down shares of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. and China Merchants Bank.
The Nikkei 225 index shot up 2.7 percent to 14,354.37. Hong Kong's blue-chip Hang Sang Index advanced more than 1.9 percent to 23,029.69 _ the first rise in five sessions.
In Tokyo, shares of Canon rose 2.9%, Advantest added 5.3% and Toyota Motor Corp. advanced 2.9%
TDK Corp. jumped 6.2 percent and Advantest gained 5.3 percent. Toyota Motor rose 2.9 percent.
Shares of Sharp Corp. advanced 1.5%, after the company on Friday said it has developed the world's largest liquid crystal display panel, measuring 108 inches, for use as a display in commercial applications.
In mainland China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.2 percent to 2,874.10.
Elsewhere:
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.1% to 5,371.70.
South Korea's Kospi gained 0.8% to 1,760.82.
New Zealand's NZX 50 index ended 0.3% lower at 3,406.30.
Taiwan's Weighted index rose 0.8% to 8,169.77.
with files from other wire services