At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 0.01%.
The best session performers on the Nikkei 225 were Mizuho Financial Group Inc and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, which rose 5.41% and 5.02%, respectively. Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. also had a strong session, finishing up 4.99%.
The session's worst performers were Shiseido Co., Ltd., Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd., and Eisai Co., Ltd., which fell 2.72%, 2.72%, and 2.61%, respectively.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but shares in Mizuho Financial Group Inc and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc rose to 3-year and 5-year highs, respectively. Shares in Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. fell to 52-week lows.
Crude oil for February delivery was down 0.14%, while Brent oil for March delivery fell 0.12%. The February Gold Futures contract rose 0.27%. USD/JPY and EUR/JPY also fell 0.54% and 0.48%, respectively.