Tokyo stocks opened 0.93 percent lower on Friday after a sharp fall on Wall Street, where sentiment was hit by weak data from China and Europe, adding to fears over global growth.
The Nikkei index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 82.36 points to 8,741.74 in the first minutes of trading. The Topix index of all first section shares lost 7.54 points, or 1.00 percent, to 746.42 points.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 250.82 points, or 1.96 percent, at 12,573.57 at the close.
The S&P 500-stock index fell 30.18 (2.23 percent) to 1,325.51, while the tech-rich Nasdaq dropped 71.36 (2.44 percent) to 2,859.09.
The fall followed disappointing purchasing manager index reports from China and Europe, both signalling a downturn in industrial activity.
"Signs of a global slowdown are likely to weigh on overall market sentiment," Yutaka Miura, Mizuho Securities senior technical analyst, told Dow Jones Newswires.
A stronger dollar against the yen might support the Nikkei's downside, but market sentiment was not positive enough for the index to extend Thursday's gains, he added.
The dollar stood at 80.02 yen, softer from 80.26 yen seen in Thursday afternoon in New York, but higher from 79.60 yen in Tokyo morning trade on Wednesday.
The euro bought $1.2547 and 100.41 yen, mixed from $1.2543 and 100.68 yen in New York.
