TOKYO, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average hit a seven-month closing high on Tuesday in holiday-thin trade, as a rebound in Chinese equities encouraged investors to buy on dips.
Investors shrugged off a slightly stronger yen against the dollar and aggressively added blue-chip exporters.
Comments from a Chinese vice premier that China supports efforts by the EU to calm global markets in the wake of Europe's debt crisis lent further support, bolstering the euro-sensitive precision machinery sector. Canon Inc rose 1.6 percent.
The benchmark Nikkei gained 1.5 percent or 154.12 points to 10,370.53, while the broader Topix rose 0.9 percent to 906.21. (Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Chris Gallagher)