The Nikkei 225 index was up 1.4 percent when investors took lunch, while the broader Topix index stood at plus 1.1 percent.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was simultaneously up 1.3 percent. Shanghai's composite index fluctuated around zero, while Shenzhen's equivalent was up 0.6 percent.
In South Korea, the Kospi index was up 0.9 percent.
According to the US Finance Minister Scott Bessent, a "deal" on trade with South Korea could be in place as early as next week.
And according to Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato, no demands for currency regulations were raised in his talks with Bessent on Thursday. The two sides are said to agree that exchange rates should be determined by the market.
