Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower Friday.

In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 189.17 points, or 1.17 percent, to 15,959.32.

The Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 21.02 points, or 1.34 percent, to 1,546.44. The Second Section fell.