Japan’s economy shrank in the third quarter as natural disasters hit spending and disrupted exports.
Preliminary figures show the economy contracted by one point two percent between July and September.
A devastating earthquake and typhoon were among the disasters that hit Japan this year, prompting the contraction.
The slowdown comes as the US and China fight a trade war which risks hurting global trade and growth.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a one percent contraction for the three months to September.
Exports fell by one point eight percent from the previous quarter, the fastest decline in more than three years.
