The average summer bonus paid by companies this year rose 1.3 percent from a year earlier to 410,618, yen the first gain in two years, the government said in a survey released Monday.
An official at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said the latest increase is attributable to stronger corporate earnings.
Bonuses rose 3.1 percent in education, 2.6 percent in manufacturing and 2.4 percent in services.
The good news was not universal, however. Bonuses fell 3.0 percent in the transportation sector and 2.4 percent in the restaurant and hotel sector.
Initial figures showed that the average wage nationwide increased 0.8 percent in September from a year earlier to 276,733, yen the first upturn in two months, the ministry said.
Average working hours came to 151.4, up 0.2 percent.