Japan's Nikkei share average tumbled 2.9% to a three-week low on Wednesday, posting its biggest daily drop since mid-March, as a stronger yen dragged down exporters and concerns about Ukraine curbed investors' risk appetites.
The Nikkei closed down 424.06 points to 14,033.45, its lowest closing level since April 15.
The broader Topix fell 2.6% to 1,152.01, with 2.1 billion shares changing hands, the largest volume since April 11.
The new JPX-Nikkei Index 400 dropped 2.5% to 10,478.07.