The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.4% to around 53,700, while the broader Topix Index lost 1% to 3,612 on Friday, sliding for the second straight session and tracking losses on Wall Street overnight as oil prices soared on disruptions from the Middle East war. Oil rallied after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, while intensifying attacks on regional oil and transport infrastructure. Meanwhile, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda cautioned that a weak yen could heighten imported inflation as oil prices rise, potentially prompting the central bank to accelerate policy normalization. Technology and consumer stocks led the downturn, with steep losses from Kioxia Holdings (-4.5%), Advantest (-3%), SoftBank Group (-4.9%), Fast Retailing (-1.5%), and Toyota Motor (-2.1%). Both the Nikkei and Topix are on track for a second consecutive weekly decline.