The Nikkei index fell by 0.4%, dragged down by pharmaceutical and shipping stocks.

The Japanese stock market fell in early trading, as initial enthusiasm for the general election cooled. The Nikkei index dropped by 0.4% to 53,889.06 points. Pharmaceutical, shipping, and energy stocks led the decline. Chugai Pharmaceutical fell by 4.0%, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha by 2.7%, and Inpex Corporation by 2.3%. Investors are closely watching for details on the early election and any comments from government officials on the recent weakness of the Japanese yen.