Tokyo stocks opened lower Wednesday on prolonged worries over the economic outlook, dpa reported.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 148.28 points, or 1.78 per cent, to 8,180.13.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 13.29 points, or 1.59 per cent, to 822.15.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 96.75-80 yen, up from Tuesday's 5 pm quotes of 96.60-62 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.2632-37 dollars, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 1.2649-51 dollars, and at 122.25-30 yen, up from 122.19-23 yen.