Japanese shares closed lower on Tuesday.

"Considering there is profit-taking selling from domestic institutional investors like pension funds ahead of book closings at the end of March, the market has been holding up very well," said Kenichi Azuma from Cosmo Securities. "Recent gains among tech shares also suggest rapidly improving investor sentiment toward Japanese stocks, so I am not worried at all about today’s fall in share prices."

The Nikkei 225 fell 53.31 points, 0.46% to 11,597.71. The TOPIX declined 0.36% and closed at 1,162.49.

Advantest tumbled 2.09% to 8890 yen, Canon added 0.37% and closed at 5490 yen. NEC rallied 2.14% to 669 yen. Daiei added 0.44% to 229 yen.

Honda was up 0,36% to 5580, Nissan Motor fell 0.09% to 1129 yen, Toyota slid 0.97% to 4090 yen.

Yto-Yokado rose 0.46% to 4340 yen.