Japanese stocks experienced significant declines, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average falling over 3% and nearing a technical correction. The downturn was influenced by a variety of factors including a sharp drop in high-tech shares and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, exacerbated by Israel's attack on Iran. Additionally, the Nikkei fell below 37,000 for the first time since February 9 and plunged by 1,200 points, reflecting a broader sell-off trend where equity market investors adopted a 'sell first, ask later' approach. This sentiment was further evidenced by increased trading volumes and a general downturn in U.S. futures, which also declined by over 1%.