Tokyo stocks extended their losses Friday on the back of oil price rises and a stronger yen, dpa reported.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 85.5 points in morning trading, or 0.67 per cent, to trade at 12,666.71.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 8.14 points, or 0.66 per cent, at 1,216.39.
Exporters were hurt by a weaker US dollar against the yen as a stronger yen makes Japanese products more expensive overseas.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 108.42-47 yen, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 108.95-96 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.4887-92 dollars, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 1.4785-86 dollars, and at 161.42-47 yen, up from 161.09-13 yen.