Business confidence in Japan has improved for the first time in 2.5 years, according to the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey.
The confidence index for major manufacturers rose to minus 48 from a record low of minus 58 in March.
But the BBC reports the survey showed that overall, companies remained gloomy about the future.
Japan is in its steepest recession since World War II.
The Tankan survey canvasses more than 10,000 firms.
