Japanese markets closed lower Wednesday, while the U.S. dollar is lower against the Japanese yen.

Tokyo's Nikkei index fell one-half of one percent to finish at 10,047.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 77.72 yen, a loss of one-fifth of a yen from Tuesday.

The Taipei market finished at 8,817, a gain of just over one-quarter of one percent .