As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average tumbled 1,259.35 points, or 6.79 percent, from Thursday to 17,300.28, falling below the 18,000 threshold for the first time since November 2016.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dived 77.03 points, or 5.80 percent, at 1,250.85.
All industry categories retreated, with real estate, air transportation and mining issues comprising those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.
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