Japan's economy is expected to expand 1.8 percent in real terms and 0.5 percent in nominal terms in fiscal 2004, the government said Friday.

The growth will occur amid a gradual rise in production and capital spending spurred by robust recoveries in the U.S. and other Asian economies, the government said.

The projection, measured in terms of gross domestic product -- the value of goods and services produced domestically -- will serve as a policy target for the year beginning in April.