Japanese shares tumbled near 4% on rising concerns about anti-Japan protests in China.The sell-off wiped out $118.9 billion of investor wealth.
The Nikkei fell 432.25 point, or 3.8%, to 10,938.44, the lowest closing level since Dec. 16. The TOPIX dropped 3.58% to 1,109.49.
"There is a possibility that the China problem could emerge as a serious threat, but at this point, deteriorating sentiment rather than fundamentals is pushing down the market," said Mitsushige Akino from Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co.
Advantest tumbled 4.51% and closed at 7620 yen, Canon declined 2.67% to 5470 yen. NEC fell 4.25% to 586 yen. Sony dropped 4.95% to 3840 yen.
Daiei tumbled 5.77% to 196 yen.
Honda slipped 3.91% to 5160, Nissan Motor fell 3.94% to 1049 yen, Toyota declined 2.78% to 3850 yen.
Yto-Yokado dropped 5.17% to 3850 yen.
FOREX
In the currency market, the euro rose to $1.2975 from $1.2926 in New York late Friday. The dollar fell to 107.50 yen, from $107.75 yen.