The important Nikkei 225 index is down 0.8 percent, while the broader Topix index is back 0.7 percent.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opens with a smaller drop of 0.3 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index also started the day negatively, minus 0.4 percent. Shenzhen’s composite index, however, is slightly more cheerful and starts trading at plus 0.3 percent.