Japanese shares rose nearly 1.8 per cent Wednesday. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 169.77 points, or 1.79 per cent, to close at 9,629.43. The broader-based Topix index was up 13.26 points, or 1.63 per cent, at 828.99. Tokyo stocks opened higher after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou won a confidence vote early Wednesday, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA"