Tokyo stocks opened 2006 on a festive note Wednesday, the year's first day of trading, as Tokyo Stock Exchange officials vowed to restore public confidence in the world's second-largest bourse, which was shaken by computer problems last year.

As koto music played in the background, women clad in kimono rang the bell to signal the start of trading.

In a half-day session, the 225-issue Nikkei stock average rose 250.11 points, or 1.55 percent, to close at 16,361.54, its highest closing since Sept. 20, 2000.