The economy grew an annualized 1.9 percent in the July-September period, marking a fourth consecutive quarter of growth but sharply down from the previous quarter as consumption slowed and exports fell, casting a cloud over "Abenomics."
In the previous three months, gross domestic product rose at an annualized 3.8 percent.
Data announced Thursday by the Cabinet Office showed that the inflation-adjusted GDP grew 0.5 percent from the previous quarter, leading the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to justify his Abenomics policy, marked so far by drastic monetary easing and aggressive public spending.