(Updates with details and closing levels)

By Brigid Riley

TOKYO, June 24 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

closed higher on Monday after a weaker yen supported

export-related stocks and as technology shares regained some

momentum in the afternoon session.

The Nikkei closed 0.5% higher at 38,804.65, while

the broader Topix was also up 0.5% at 2740.19.

Japanese stocks struggled for direction during the morning

session, with the U.S. stocks giving little to cheer after the

S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed marginally lower on Friday, weighed

down by a decline in Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares.

But momentum picked up in the Asian afternoon trade despite

the absence of clear drivers, as yen was seen supporting

export-related shares as it weakened towards the 160-per-dollar

level.

A weaker yen helps boost Japanese exporters' overseas

earnings when repatriated and increases their competitiveness.

Automakers and suppliers topped gains by sector,

adding 1.6%, just ahead of pharmaceutical firms, up

1.5%.

Shares of Japanese chipmakers, which have been some of

the Nikkei's strongest performers over the past year and were

treading water for most of the early trade, also regained some

footing.

The Nikkei has traded in a narrow range in recent months,

with the index on track for a less than 1% gain this month after

a flat May.

The index has been in a period of consolidation as investors

wait out currency and bond market volatility and look for

clarity from the Bank of Japan, although portfolio rebalancing

flows could give some support as the month draws to a close,

said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG.

Among individual stocks, auto maker Toyota Motor ( TM )

rose 2.5% and AI-focused startup investor SoftBank Group ( SFTBF )

inched up 0.8%.

Electrical components maker TDK added 2.2%.

Aozora Bank ( AOZOF ) gained about 3% to lead a rally in

bank stocks.

Chugai Pharmaceutical ( CHGCF ) was up nearly 4% to top gains

among drug manufacturers.

Online service platform operator Mercari ( MRCIF ) was at the

bottom with a 4.7% decline.