Tokyo: Japanese stocks edged up in a choppy session on Tuesday, with the eighth day of gains underpinned by optimism about the economy`s recovery.
The Nikkei 225 ended 0.1 percent higher at 20,437.48 after flitting between positive and negative territory during the session.
Although the subdued activity raised the risk of profit-taking, the Nikkei`s eight-day gains marked its longest winning streak since last August.
The broader Topix was flat at 1,659.57, with only 1.914 billion shares changing hands, the lowest level in a month.
"If the stock market is rising with high volume, it`s a sign that the market will likely rise further, but when the market is marginally higher on low volume, there is a risk behind the rise," said Norihiro Fujito, a senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.
"Whether it`s a political risk in the euro zone, volatility in the bond market or the timing of a U.S. rate hike, we can`t ignore these risks," he said, adding that there`s a possibility that bullish positions would be unwound.
The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 was also flat at 15,003.85.