Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 62.56 points, or 0.16 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 40,063.79.
At one point, the index fell more than 300 points, dipping below the significant 40,000 mark for the first time in about two weeks.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, fell for the second consecutive day, closing at 2,860.83, down 7.80 points, or 0.27 percent from the previous trading day.
Market watchers here noted that the downward trend of the major three indices in the U.S. stock market, weighed on investor sentiment in Tokyo, with selling pressure seen in broad sectors including shipping, air transport, and mining.
Profit-taking sales from a sense of caution over high prices also pushed the market down, according to local analysts.
On the Prime Market, declining issues outnumbered advancing ones by 1,113 to 494, with 39 issues remaining unchanged.
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