Mubasher: Japan's share index Nikkei inched down 0.37% to 18,916 points -- its lowest since 16 December -- amid fall in yen against dollar.
The yen declined by 0.21% to 121.41 per dollar, its lowest since 18 December.
TOPIX index slipped 0.4%, and JPX Nikkei 400 index shed 0.3%.
