Nikkei 225 closes down 1.4% at 62,188.63; KOSPI gains 0.62%

The split between a softer Nikkei and a firmer KOSPI points to divergence within Asian equities rather than a single regional risk signal, which matters for anyone tracking whether the recent momentum in Korean benchmarks is idiosyncratic or part of a broader rotation. The Nikkei's decline alongside a milder Topix pullback suggests the weakness was concentrated rather than broad-based. Whether this Japan-Korea gap persists into the next session, or proves a one-day spread, is the open question worth watching.