Share prices on the Nikkei 225 briefly tumbled more than 600 points, or 2.6 percent, after the reports. It closed Friday at 22,882, down 326 points or 1.4 percent.

Share prices were trading higher in the afternoon session but tumbled once investors started placing sell orders as the news filtered in.

They also say the added uncertainty in domestic politics is causing the Japanese yen's exchange rate to fluctuate wildly.

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