Nikkei up 1 pct to 4-month high, Sony jumps

(Updates to midday)

TOKYO, May 15 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose to a fresh four-month high on Thursday, up 1 percent, with Sony Corp (6758.T) jumping 9 percent on its bigger-than-expected outlook.

Exporters such as Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) also climbed on a softer yen against the dollar.

The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 ended the morning up 144.86 points at 14,263.41. The broader TOPIX index gained 1.6 percent to 1,394.26.