Tokyo stocks fell 2.76 percent on Thursday as investors returned from a five-day holiday to a gloomy outlook for global economic health after US stocks declined steeply.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 498.38 points, from last Friday at 17,571.83, a roughly two-week closing low, Xinhua news agency reported.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished at 35.41 points or 2.42 percent, lower at 1,426.97.
Declines were led by machinery, nonferrous metals and iron and steel issues.
The turnover was 2,746.51 billion yen (about $22.88 billion).