The Nikkei stock index closed 0.25 percent lower Monday, as a victory for the anti-austerity Syriza party in Greece's general election over the weekend triggered concerns for the broader area, punctuated by the fact that Syriza has said it will oppose the massive bailout conditions.
The Nikkei 225 lost 43.23 points to end at 17,468.52, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares edged down 0.08 percent, or 1.14 points, to close at 1,402.08.