Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Friday by 1.17% or 219.16 points to a 15-year high of 18971 points. It added 0.9% during the week to extend its gains to the fourth successive week.

The index was spurred by encouraging comments from the European Central Bank that lifted sentiment.

The broader index Topix rose 0.6 % to 1,532.24 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 added 0.5 % to 13,918.31.

FamilyMart Co. tumbled on news that it was in merger talks with UNY Group Holdings Co.

The ECB raised growth and inflation targets and announced it would start its government bond-buying program of 60 billion euros a month on March 9.

ECB announced Thursday maintaining policy rates unchanged.