The number of virus cases continues to soar in Japan and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga urged people to avoid gatherings, saying "the virus has no holidays".
SoftBank Group dropped 1.8% after China launched an investigation into Alibaba Group for suspected monopolistic behaviour and will summon its Ant Group to meet in coming days.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped 30 cents, or 0.6%, to $47.67 a barrel at 0156 GMT, while Brent crude futures fell 26 cents, or 0.5%, to $50.65 a barrel.
SoftBank Group was down 1.13 percent at 8,393 yen following reports that it applied for an initial public offering of a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called SVF Investment to raise up to $525 million.
In Tokyo trading, airline companies were lower with Japan Airlines falling 2.88 percent to 1,955 yen and ANA Holdings dropping 6.66 percent to 2,305 yen.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2 percent at 30,046.37, while the broad-based S&P 500 declined 0.1 percent and the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index shed 0.3 percent.
While most observers are confident the world economy will enjoy a healthy recovery next year as inoculations are administered, the immediate impact of the disease as countries endure a fresh wave was acting as a drag on trading floors.
Among major shares in Tokyo, shipping firms were down, with Nippon Yusen declining 1.13 percent to 2,367 yen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines dropping 0.57 percent to 2,975 yen, and Kawasaki Kisen down 2.37 percent at 1,939 yen.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.42 percent or 113.38 points to 26,704.56 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 0.19 percent or 3.39 points at 1,776.03.
"Markets remain in consolidation mode as we await Brexit and US stimulus developments," added Rodigo Catrill, senior strategist at National Australia Bank.
In Tokyo trading, medical equipment-related shares were higher with Olympus jumping 4.88 percent to 2,253.5 yen and Omron rising 4.02 percent to 9,300 yen.