Japan's Nikkei index fell by 1.3% to 63,360.96 as of 0046 GMT, driven by a selloff in tech stocks and renewed geopolitical tensions.
The index had earlier dropped nearly 3%, slipping below the 63,000 mark for the first time since May 22. The broader Topix index also declined by 1.6% to 3,787.08.
The decline was exacerbated by SoftBank Group, which dragged the Nikkei down by 233 points, falling 3.6%. Other tech-related stocks such as Fujikura and Advantest also suffered losses, declining by 6% and 3.7% respectively.
In total, there were 184 decliners against 40 advancers in the Nikkei index.
The market downturn coincided with renewed U.S. military strikes in Iran, following President Donald Trump's warning of further actions if no peace deal is reached.
Background
This geopolitical tension has added to market volatility, particularly affecting tech stocks.
Investors will be closely watching for further developments in U.S.-Iran relations and their potential impact on global markets. The focus will also remain on the tech sector, which has been particularly sensitive to geopolitical and economic shifts.
