TOKYO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened marginally lower on Tuesday as the yen continued to depreciate against the U.S. dollar albeit at a slower pace which helped prop up exporter issues here.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 23.81 points, or 0.10 percent, from Monday to 22,978.56.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 5.38 points, or 0.30 percent, at 1,808.37.

Mining, insurance, and fishery, agriculture and forestry-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in the early minutes after the morning bell.