Japanese stocks fell sharply Wednesday as investors sold shares to lock in quick profits after recent gains and as market sentiment was hurt by overnight losses on Wall Street and European bourses, dpa reported. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 341.72 points, or 2.17 per cent, to end at 15,407.94 after rising 0.6 per cent on Tuesday. The broader-based Topix index was down 21.55 points, or 1.71 per cent, at 1,240.99. On currency markets at 3 pm (0600 GMT), the dollar traded at 102.48-49 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 103.06-07 yen. The euro was quoted at 139.23-27 yen, down from 139.63-64 yen late Tuesday and at 1.3585-3590 dollars, up from 1.3548-3549 dollars.