In Tokyo on Monday the Nikkei 225 fell 2.24 percent to 16,438.47 and the Topix index dropped 1.77 percent to 1,563.07, but the Mothers market of small and mid-caps managed a 1.04 percent gain to 911.42.
Exporters dropped as the yen strengthened in relation to the US dollar.
Construction machinery manufacturer Komatsu (TYO: 6301) was 2.9 percent lower to ¥3,720 after its US rival Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) cut its profits outlook on a downturn in sales in the United States.
Game console maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974; NAS: NTDOY; FWB: NTO) was also 2.9 percent lower to ¥64,800, while automobile manufacturers Toyota (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) and Honda (TYO: 7267; NYSE: HMC) each fell 2.1 percent, to ¥6,120 and ¥3,750 respectively.
It was Honda’s lowest close in a month and a 14-month low for Toyota.
Banks were still in the doldrums, with Mitsubishi UFJ trading even at ¥1,027 after early-session declines and Sumitomo Mitsui down 0.6 percent to ¥832,000 even though the consumer finance sector, in which they hold stakes, was much higher on the session.
Acom (TYO: 8572) gained 14 percent to ¥3,000 while Aiful (TYO: 8515) added 18 percent to ¥2,670.