Core consumer prices in Japan were down 0.3 percent on year in February, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday - beating forecasts for -0.4 percent after showing -0.2 percent in January.

Overall CPI in Japan plummeted 0.7 percent on year - in line with forecasts after dipping 0.3 percent in the previous month.

On month, core CPI added 0.1 percent and overall inflation lost 0.2 percent.

Core inflation for the Tokyo region, considered a leading indicator for the nationwide trend, was down 0.5 percent on year in March versus forecasts for a 0.6 percent contraction, which would have been unchanged from the February reading.

Overall Tokyo CPI dropped 1.0 percent on year, missing forecasts for a 0.9 percent decline, which also would have been unchanged.

On month, Tokyo's core CPI was up 0.4 percent and overall inflation gained 0.3 percent.