Tokyo stocks on Tuesday opened lower owing to the ongoing global oil glut and related geopolitical concerns as well as jitters over a perceived slowdown in China's economy.
As of 9.15 a.m. (local time), the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average declined 40.07 points, or 0.24 percent, from Monday to 16,915.50, Xinhua news agency reported.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dropped 4.80 points, or 0.35 percent, to 1,383.13.
Early issues comprising notable decliners were foods, banks and insurance-linked stocks.