TOKYO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 1.2 percent on Thursday, lifted by exporters such as Sony Corp after industrial output data helped buoy U.S. stocks to fresh 2009 highs.
A government survey showing that big manufacturers had turned optimistic in the three months to September as well as a mostly smooth start for Japan's new government were also lending support to market sentiment, market players said.
The benchmark Nikkei gained 120.55 points to 10,391.32, after adding 0.5 percent the previous day. The broader Topix advanced 0.8 percent to 938.52. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)