Tokyo stocks lost ground on Tuesday morning as a dour market mood continued following a global equity rout a day earlier and concerns about Chinese markets and a potential slowdown.
As of 9.15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 84.48 points, or 0.46 percent, from Monday to 18,366.50, Xinhua news agency reported.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 7.22 points, or 0.48 percent, to 1,502.45.
Early decliners comprised pharmaceuticals, agriculture and fisheries, and insurance-linked issues.