Japanese shares rose on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street gains, after signs that US auto tariffs may be softer than expected lifted sentiment.

The Nikkei 225 added 0.46%, or 172.05 points, to close at 37,780.54.

US President Donald Trump said auto tariffs are coming soon but suggested some levies may be delayed or waived, boosting US stocks. The S&P 500 hit a two-week high, while tech strength lifted the Nasdaq more than 2%.

In Japan, Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymakers debated the pace of future rate hikes after raising short-term rates to a 17-year high in January, meeting minutes showed on Tuesday.

Some members said real rates would stay deeply negative despite the hike, keeping financial conditions loose.

The BOJ raised its short-term policy rate by 0.25 points to 0.5% - the highest since 2008 - and raised its price forecasts, confident that rising wages will stabilize inflation around its 2% target.

On the corporate front, TerraSky (TYO:3915) will absorb its AI consulting unit Enoki on June 1 to improve efficiency. The merger will dissolve Enoki without new shares or payments.

Nitto Kohki (TYO:6151) cut its fiscal-year forecast, citing weak semiconductor and automotive demand. It now expects net sales of 27.1 billion yen (down 4.2%) and profit of 1.82 billion yen (down 17.8%). The year-end dividend was lowered to 18 yen from 27 yen.

CRE (TYO:3458) will hold a shareholder vote in May on a share consolidation. The record date is April 8. SMFL MIRAI, Kyobashi Kousan, and Kenedix plan to support it after SMFL MIRAI's failed takeover bid in January.