Nikkei hits 8-mth closing high on yen, US jobs data

* Nikkei boosted by weaker yen, U.S. jobs figures

* Komatsu surges on favourable brokerage ratings

By Shinichi Saoshiro

TOKYO, June 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average gained 1 percent on Monday to hit an eight-month closing high, after better-than-expected U.S. jobs data raised hopes for an economic recovery and a weaker yen cheered exporters such as Canon Inc (7751.T) and Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T).

Komatsu Ltd (6301.T) surged 6 percent after Nomura Securities upgraded the construction machinery maker's rating to "buy" and Morgan Stanley started coverage at "overweight".

Exporters led the market's gains after the dollar hit a one-month high on Friday near 99 yen JPY= when the jobs report showed the United States shed 345,000 jobs in May, well below the 520,000 expected by economists. [ID:nN05274048] [FRX/]

Digital camera maker Canon jumped 3.4 percent to 3,360 yen and Sony Corp (6758.T) added 0.6 percent to 2,710 yen.

Honda Motor Co (7267.T) advanced 1.6 percent to 2,895 yen, while Toyota rose 1.3 percent to 3,910 yen.

"Investors are welcoming the weaker yen and the better-than-expected U.S. jobs report," said Yutaka Miura, a senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 gained 97.62 points to 9,865.63, its highest close since Oct. 7.

The broader Topix added 1.1 percent to 926.89.

The focus is now on when the Nikkei will be able to reclaim the psychologically important 10,000 mark.

"The market has the momentum to reach 10,000 within the next few days," said Yoshinori Nagano, a senior strategist at Daiwa Asset Management.

"The question is if the index can remain above 10,000. Most participants already expect an economic recovery to take place after a recent run of upbeat data, so the market will be vulnerable to profit-taking at that level."

The jobs data released on Friday also showed that the U.S. unemployment rate hit 9.4 percent, its highest since 1983, and market watchers warned the road to recovery for the global economy is looking rocky.

KOMATSU, HITACHI CONSTRUCTION JUMP