According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the latest decline came on the heels of an upwardly revised 0.3-percent increase logged in December.
The ministry said in its preliminary report that the seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines stood at 91.4 against the 2015 base of 100.
The data showed that the index of industrial shipments retreated 3.1 percent to 89.7, marking the fifth straight month of decline.
Inventories, meanwhile, edged down for a second consecutive month in the recording period, sliding 0.9 percent to 102.3, the ministry also said.
The ministry said looking ahead it expects industrial output here to rise 0.7 percent in March, with the figure based on its survey of Japanese manufacturers.
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