Tokyo shares open sharply higher

Tokyo shares opened sharply higher on Wednesday following overnight gains in the US stocks market and a weaker yen.

At 9.15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average skyrocketed 302.30 points, or 1.62 percent, from Monday to 18,985.54, Xinhua news agency reported.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange surged 21.59 points, or 1.41 percent, to 1,548.56.

The Japanese stocks markets were closed on Tuesday for a national holiday.