The benchmark 10-year JGB futures rose 0.06 point to 150.48, while the yield on the benchmark 10-year cash JGBs stood flat at 0.055 percent.

US bond yields hit a three-week low on Wednesday as investors reduced expectations that the Federal Reserve is likely to adopt a faster path in raising interest rates.

Investors also think any new fiscal stimulus from US President Donald Trump is seen as unlikely in the near-term.

The expectations that the BOJ may have to notch up its 10-year bond yield target in line with the rise in global bond yields are also diminishing, supporting JGBs.

"I thought it was far-fetched to think that the BOJ will change its bond yield target any time soon. It seems like that thinking is sinking in among market players," said a fund manager at a US asset management firm.

The five-year yield dipped 0.5 basis point to minus 0.16 percent.

Bucking the trend were maturities around 20-year bonds, which saw fairly big selling interest in the BOJ's bond-buying operation on Thursday.

The 20-year yield rose 0.5 basis point to 0.640 percent .

Copyright Reuters, 2017