Stocks in Tokyo fell in Tuesday morning trading after a drop in US industrial production and overnight declines on Wall Street, dpa reported.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 56.5 points, or 0.65 per cent, to 8,608.16.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also was down 11.86 points, or 1.4 per cent, at 835.07.
Investors were also cautious, traders said, as they await the results of a US Federal Reserve meeting later Tuesday. The central bank was expected to further slash interest rates.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 90.50-55 yen, down from Monday's 5 pm quote of 90.95-98 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.3690-95 dollars, up from 1.3440-43 dollars late Monday, and at 123.90-95 yen, up from 122.26-30 yen.