Japan's Nikkei share average rose above 15,300 for the first time in five years on Friday as Tokyo Electron Ltd. and other technology firms followed their U.S. counterparts higher, pushing the benchmark up 1.16 percent.

Brokerages such as Nomura Holdings Inc. and other companies likely to benefit from strong stocks also advanced, and clothing retailer Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. surged to a four-year high on news it would acquire a French lingerie firm.

A monthly Reuters survey released on Friday showed that manufacturers' business sentiment in November rose to its highest level in 15 months. That suggests the outcome of the Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan survey -- which is closely watched by financial markets -- may also be strong.

Kirby Daley, strategist at Societe Generale Securities' Fimat division in Hong Kong, said gains by U.S. tech issues were helping to boost their Japanese counterparts, which have so far lagged sectors such as steel makers and banks.

''(But) there has to be impetus for certain sectors to follow, to make up the gap, and yesterday's rally in the U.S. is a very good reason for Japan techs to make up their ground.'' The Nikkei was up 174.87 points at 15,305.37 in late afternoon trade. If it stays at this level, it will book its highest close since November 2000.

Tokyo Electron, the world's second-biggest chip equipment maker, rose 2.5 percent to 7,480 yen after Intel Corp. hit a four-month closing high on expectations it will raise its forecast of revenue and profit in a mid-quarter update next week.

On Thursday, the operator of Uniqlo shops said it would buy a 95 percent stake in France's second-biggest lingerie brand, Petit Vehicule S.A., for about 70 million euros ($82.15 million) to boost its global reach.

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