(Updates with closing prices)

    By Kevin Buckland

       TOKYO, April 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

rose 1% on Friday to clock its best week in three months, as

investors turned more hopeful that U.S. President Donald Trump

would be able to broker trade deals with some of its top trading

partners, including Japan.

    The Nikkei .N225 touched a two-week high of 34,758.97

before ending the day up 1.03% at 34,730.28, despite somewhat

muted trading due to the Easter holidays in most other markets.

    The broader Topix .TOPX added 1.14%.

    The Nikkei climbed 3.41% for the week - the most since

January 20 - to snap a three-week losing run.

    On Thursday, Trump and close ally Italian Prime Minister

Giorgia Meloni expressed optimism about resolving U.S.-European

Union trade tensions. Trump also signalled a potential end to

tit-for-tat tariff hikes with China.

    A day earlier, Japan's top negotiator, economy minister

Ryosei Akazawa, kicked off dialogue in Washington, and told

reporters afterwards that Trump had said getting a deal with

Japan was a "top priority". Trump hailed discussions with Japan

on social media, saying "Big Progress!"

    "The mood seemed overall quite positive, underscored by

Trump's social media post featuring a smiling photo of him with

Akazawa in the Oval Office," said James Brady, vice president at

advisory firm Teneo.

    "The general sense is that the discussions got off to a

reasonable start."

    Shipping .ISHIP.T was the second-best performer among the

Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry groupings, gaining 2.92%.

    Pharmaceuticals .IPHAM.T topped the list with a 4.68%

jump, led by a 17.54% surge for Chugai Pharmaceutical 4519.T

after an obesity drug it developed and licensed to Eli Lilly

LLY.O performed well in clinical trials.

    Chip-sector shares dragged on the Nikkei though, as

investors resumed selling after a rebound on Thursday.

    Advantest 6857.T sagged 2.26% and Screen Holdings 7735.T

dropped 3.97% to be the Nikkei's worst performer.

(Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

((Kevin.Buckland@thomsonreuters.com;))