Investor caution ahead of US non-farm payrolls data due later in the session also helped nudge JGB yields higher.
The benchmark 10-year JGB yield rose 2 basis points to 0.355 percent and 20-year and 30-year yields climbed as well.
The five-year yield, on the other hand, stood unchanged at 0.095 percent thanks to firm results at the Bank of Japan's regular debt-buying operation.
The BOJ offered to buy a total of 1.15 trillion yen ($9.6 billion) of one-year to 10-year JGBs from the market on Friday.
US Treasury yields rose overnight in wake of stronger-than-expected jobless claims numbers.