Nikkei edges up on relief after Fed, exporters strong

TOKYO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average edged back towards a 10-month high on Thursday on relief after the Federal Reserve suggested the U.S. economy is through the worst of the recession, with economy-sensitive exporters such as Advantest Corp (6857.T) leading it higher.

In thin trade, investors sought out individual shares related to specific themes, with Kawasaki Heavy (7012.T) and other companies involved in making trains surging on a report that Vietnam will use Japan's bullet train technology in building its high-speed railway system.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 rose 0.8 percent or 82.19 points to 10,517.19, crawling back towards a 10-month high of 10,587.36 hit on Tuesday. The broader Topix rose 0.9 percent to 968.41. (Reporting by Elaine Lies)