Tokyo issues opened the trading Monday higher on bargain hunting after Nikkei's declines last week, but the buying was held by a lull in trade cues.
At 9.15 a.m. (local time), the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 52.18 points, or 0.28 percent, from Friday to 18,821.24, Xinhua reported.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 6.24 points, or 0.41 percent, to 1,522.43.