The Nikkei 225 fell 0.5% toward 43,000, while the broader Topix dropped 0.9% to 3,065 on Thursday, as Japanese stocks pulled back from record highs amid profit taking. The market had rallied earlier in the week after softer US inflation data boosted expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut next month. A strong earnings season in Japan and an improving global trade outlook also added to bullish sentiment. On the policy front, the Bank of Japan faces mounting pressure to abandon an inflation gauge tied to domestic demand and wage growth that has so far restrained further tightening. Major decliners included Mitsubishi Heavy (-5.2%), IHI Corp (-2.2%), Sony Group (-1.7%), and Tokyo Electron (-1.1%). In contrast, SoftBank Group jumped 5.2% to fresh record highs.