The Nikkei average fell 1.4 percent on Tuesday after booking a six-month closing high the previous day, with bank shares such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T> taking a breather following sharp gains fueled by optimism about the U.S. banking system.

The benchmark Nikkei <.N225> shed 136.31 points to 9,315.67. It rose 0.2 percent on Monday to its highest close since November 5.

Tuesday's fall comes after the Nikkei had recovered about 34 percent from an intra-day low hit on March 10.

The broader Topix <.TOPX> declined 1.3 percent to 889.19.

(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)

Nikkei 225