Tokyo shares tumbled 3.21 percent in late afternoon trading Tuesday, following Chinese shares lower as disappointing manufacturing data gave further indications of a slowdown in Asia's top economy.

The Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped 606.34 points to 18,284.14 about half an hour before the close, while the Topix index of all first section shares fell 3.37 percent, or 51.77 points, to 1,485.28.