The Japanese stock market experienced a slight decline today, with the Nikkei 225 index down by 0.25%. However, the index has shown a robust performance over the past month, gaining 8.84%. In the large-cap sector, SoftBank Group Corp. emerged as the top performer, achieving a return of 10.91%. Conversely, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. struggled, recording a decline of 6.54%. Mid-cap stocks saw Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. leading with a return of 7.92%, while Kokusai Electric Corp. faced challenges, declining by 6.36%. The small-cap segment was notably dynamic, with Quantum Solutions Co., Ltd. soaring by 32.05%, while Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd. fell significantly, down 14.15%. Overall, the advance-decline ratio across the market indicated that 1,660 stocks advanced compared to 1,824 that declined, resulting in a ratio of 0.91. In the large-cap category, 73 stocks advanced against 102 that declined, yielding a ratio of 0.72. Mid-cap stocks had 109 advancing and 159 declining, with a ratio of 0.69, while small-cap stocks showed a more favorable trend with 855 advancing and 824 declining, resulting in a ratio of 1.04.