It was the third successive monthly rise but was smaller than the market average forecast of a 3.8 percent rise in a survey conducted by the Nikkei business daily.

The growth, supported by production of cars and semiconductor-manufacturing devices, slowed from a surprise jump of 3.3 percent in December.

Most economists expect Japan's economy to expand again in the current January-March period after gross domestic production contracted by an annualised 1.1 percent in the previous quarter.

But the weaker-than-expected industrial production may add to concerns over the export-driven economy after data last week showed January overseas shipments slowed, pushing the trade balance into a deficit for the first time in nearly two years.