Tokyo stocks dropped from the off on Friday as the yen once again catapulting to a fresh 17-month high versus the US dollar dented the outlook for key exporter issues and dragged sentiment lower.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 172.62 points, or 1.10 percent, from Thursday to 15,577.22.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 11.99 points, or 0.94 percent, to 1,260.65.

Notable early decliners comprised mining, iron and steel, and insurance-linked issues.