Japan's Nikkei up 0.5 pct as yen's gains ease

(Updates to midsession)

TOKYO, March 14 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose 0.5 percent on Friday, led by exporters such as Canon Inc (7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) after overnight gains on Wall Street and helped by some easing of the yen's sharp climb against the dollar a day earlier.

Oil and gas field developer Inpex Holdings Inc (1605.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) extended its gains after U.S. crude oil futures on Thursday hit a record intraday peak for the seventh straight session.

Financials were mixed, with Japan's biggest bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) falling, helping to pull down the broader TOPIX index.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 ended the morning session up 64.19 points at 12,497.63. The TOPIX index fell 0.4 percent to 1,211.14. (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka)