Japan's economy grew by a faster than expected 1.4% in the three months to March as the export-led recovery spread to domestic demand.
The eighth consecutive quarterly gain in gross domestic product translated into 5.6% annual growth.
This followed a strong performance in the October-December quarter, when GDP rose by a revised 1.7% from the previous three months.
'The data confirmed that the Japanese economy had been improving steadily, boosted mainly by domestic demand,' Heizo Takenaka, economic and fiscal policy minister, told reporters.
In the fiscal year to March, the economy grew 3.2%, well above the government's initial official forecast of 2% and up from 1.1% growth recorded in the previous year. It was the fastest rate for seven years.
The Japanese government said consumer spending was 'very solid' and that the recovery in domestic demand is becoming firmer.
