Japanese shares opened sharply lower Tuesday, mirroring overnight declines on Wall Street as softness among U.S. semiconductor firms dampened investor mood ahead of the upcoming earnings season.

The Nikkei 225 shed 466.1 points, or 0.7%, to open at 68,564.85.

Brent crude slipped to about $106 per barrel. Market participants are also awaiting this week's US inflation data.