The Nikkei ended at 8859.56 points as it closed out the year with a half-day session. The Tokyo stock market reopens on January 5.
The year's fall was the worst in per centage terms since the index was established in 1949.
The Nikkei gained 112.39 points in today's short session, a 1.28 per cent advance over the previous day.
Shares up as miners gain
European markets close mixed
Investors holding Tennessee stocks take a beating
November home sales tank
