Japanese shares closed sharply lower on Tuesday after weak economic data.
The Nikkei 225 tumbled 192.48 points, 1.63% to 11,599.82. The TOPIX index fell 1.40% to 1,177.27.
Japan's jobless rate rose to 4.7% in February from 4.5% last month. Economists were expecting the rate to remain unchanged. Retail sales tumbled 2.8% in February from a year earlier. February households spending fell 3.8%.
"Employment figures and retail spending figures came in somewhat worse than consensus and it seems we also have a bit of selling pressure after the cutoff of dividend payouts rights on Friday," said Koichiro Suzuki from Sompo Japan Asset Management.
Advantest tumbled 3.22% to 8110 yen, Canon was up 0.36% to 5630 yen. NEC declined 0.46% to 649 yen. Sony fell 2.51% to 4280 yen.
Daiei closed unchanged at 217 yen.
Honda fell 1.46% to 5400, Nissan Motor dropped 1.37% to 1083 yen, Toyota slipped 0.99% to 3990 yen.
Yto-Yokado tumbled 2.29% to 4270 yen.
FOREX
In the currency market, the euro rose to $1.2940 from $1.2882 in New York late Monday. The dollar fell to 107.13 yen, from $107.20 yen.