By Makiko Yamazaki

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s exports rose for the first time in five months in September, data showed on Wednesday, although U.S. shipments continued to fall despite lower U.S. tariffs on Japanese goods that took effect in the month.

The uptick in exports adds to a string of recent data, including the Bank of Japan’s tankan business survey, that support a growing view within the central bank that the economy is weathering the impact of earlier tariff hikes.

Total exports by value rose 4.2% year-on-year in September, data showed, less than a median market forecast for a 4.6% increase and following a 0.1% drop in August.

Exports to the United States fell 13.3% in September from a year earlier, while those to China were up 5.8%, the data showed.

Imports grew 3.3% in Septe

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