Japan's Nikkei share average ticked up on Monday to a 15-month closing high as investors picked up defensive shares, while exporter shares were shunned due to the yen's gains, though the volume was subdued ahead of key global events later this week.

The Nikkei rose 0.2 per cent to 19,633.75, its highest close since December 2015. The broader Topix rose 0.2 per cent to 1,577.40, also a 15-month high.

However, trading volume on the main board was the third lowest so far this year at 1.47 trillion yen.