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

Tokyo's Nikkei index lost nearly one and one-half percent to finish at 9,901.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 77.80 yen, a loss of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

The Taipei market finished at 8,767, a loss of more than one-half of one percent .