Official figures show that Japan's exports soared at the fastest pace in about three decades last month, helping the world's number two economy to extend a recovery from the worst recession in decades.
Worldwide demand for Japanese cars, electronics and other goods are rebounding after collapsing during the global economic crisis which erupted in 2008.
Exports in February leapt 45.3% to 5.13 trillion yen, the fastest year-on-year growth since April 1980, according to the finance ministry.
While exports are still about one quarter lower than their level two years ago, the picture has brightened significantly compared with February 2009, when shipments roughly halved from a year earlier.
Last month Japan's trade surplus surged more than nine-fold to 651 billion yen, topping market expectations.
Shipments of cars more than doubled despite the safety woes of Toyota, which has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide. Car part exports rose 121.7% while electronics components were up 69.1%. Imports increased 29.5% to 4.48 trillion yen owing to higher prices of oil and some metals.
Japan's surplus with the US surged 173%, and with the EU it rose almost 70%. With China, Japan's biggest trading partner, the trade balance slipped into a deficit, with exports up 47.7%, but imports rising more quickly.
