Tokyo shares soared at the start Thursday, joining a global rally as a weaker yen boosted exporters and  helped by a solid rise in oil prices.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 3.08 percent, or 488.32 points, to 16,324.68 in opening deals, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares gained 3.05 percent, or 39.06 points, to 1,321.46.