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Japanese stocks skidded on Thursday in thin Christmas Day trade as investors booked gains after five days of rise.
In the lowest trade by volume since September 1, the Nikkei benchmark lost 0.3 per cent to close at 17,808.7, after climbing 6.6 per cent between December 16 and 24 amid optimism at US economic growth.
Japan Airlines shed 4.0 per cent on a media report that the government might end a tax break for companies that received its support to recover from bankruptcy.
Large-cap firms Softbank Corp, and clothes brand Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing Co Ltd fell 1.1 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.
The broader Topix dropped 0.3 per cent, to 1,421. The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 also dropped 0.3 per cent, to close at 12,923.6.
