Japan's gross domestic product expanded 0.6 percent on quarter in the first quarter of 2015, the Cabinet Office said in Wednesday's preliminary reading.
That topped expectations for an increase of 0.4 percent, which would have been unchanged from the rate of growth in the fourth quarter.
On an annualized yearly basis, GDP climbed 2.4 percent - also exceeding forecasts for an increase of 1.6 percent following the 1.5 percent gain in the three months prior.
The GDP deflator was up 3.4 percent, which was below forecasts for 3.6 percent - although still up from 2.4 percent in the previous three months.
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