Japan's stocks dropped in choppy trade on Thursday as anxious investors waited on earnings results from major companies after Canon Inc , a key exporter, issued a profit warning due to the yen's recent strength.

    The Nikkei fell 0.3% to 17,336.42 after flirting with positive territory earlier. The broader Topix declined 0.1% to 1,382.01 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 also shed 0.1% to 12,387.14.