Tokyo stocks extended their losing streak for a fifth straight session on Tuesday, with a key index ending below the psychologically important 15,000 mark for the first time in two months following plunges on Wall Street.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) lost 364.04 points, or 2.38 percent, from Friday to 14,936.51, its lowest finish since Aug. 8.
The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index, which includes all shares on the TSE's first section, was also down 28.82 points, or 2.32 percent, to 1,214.27. Japanese financial markets were closed on Monday for national holiday.
On Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average slid 223.03 points, its fifth-straight day of triple-digit point moves.
The yen's strength against the dollar also led investors to sell export-oriented issues, as the stronger yen cuts the value of Japanese exporters' overseas sales when converted back into local currency.
In the currency markets, at 5:10 p.m. (0810 GMT), the US dollar traded at JPY 107.25-28 versus JPY 108.08-09 in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.