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The Nikkei 225 lost 0.74%, or 62.29 points, to 8,385.59, while the broader Topix shed 0.86%, or 6.32, to 727.15.
"Europe's economy probably contracted last quarter and will keep shrinking this quarter," said Takeru Ogihara, chief strategist in Tokyo at Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., a unit of Japan's third-largest bank by market value.
"A strong yen is weighing on Japan's stocks, especially export-related shares."