TOKYO, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose to a level not seen since early January on Friday after the dollar rose against the yen on growing certainty of a U.S. interest rate increase in December.

In early trade, the Nikkei rose 1.0 percent to 18,041.96, the highest level since Jan. 7.

(Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)