The Nikkei stock index hit a roughly three-week high on Thursday as sentiment was boosted after the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit the 20,000 milestone overnight for the first time on upbeat U.S. corporate earnings. 
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 344.89 points, or 1.81 %, from Wednesday at 19,402.39, its highest close since Jan. 6. 
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 23.43 points, or 1.54 %, higher at 1,545.01.