Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 191.32 points, or 0.48 percent, from Tuesday to close the day at 39,581.81.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 11.90 points, or 0.43 percent, lower at 2,742.79.
Market watchers here noted that investors took profit-taking moves after increases in the Tokyo market while remaining cautious over the U.S. inflation data.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Tuesday said that it is considered appropriate to reduce monetary easing if the keynote inflation rate continues to rise as forecast, but the market's reaction was limited, according to analysts.
On the Prime Market, decliners were led by insurance, pharmaceutical and consumer credit issues.
Issues that gained outpaced those that declined by 841 to 754, while 57 ended the day unchanged.
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