TOKYO, March 25 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

edged lower on Monday on profit-taking following last week's

central bank decisions.

The Nikkei was 0.65% lower at 40,621.24 by the

midday break, with only 56 of the index's 225 constituents

advancing against 167 decliners.

The index is on track to snap a four-day winning streak

after crossing the 41,000 level for the first time ever on

Friday and notching a record closing high of 40,888.43.

The broader Topix was down 0.8% at 2790.78 on

Monday.

Shares of Japanese companies with higher overseas sales,

which benefit from a weaker yen, fell as the currency held at

the psychologically significant level of 151 per dollar.

"It's difficult to see the yen heading lower to something

like 160 per dollar, which is big," said Hiroshi Namioka, chief

strategist at T&D Asset Management.

Automakers declined, with Toyota Motor ( TM ) losing 0.5%

and Mazda Motor ( MZDAF ) falling 1.4%.

Sony Group ( SONY ) fell 2.3%.

The Nikkei had received support as the yen slipped back to

as low as 151.86 per dollar even as the Bank of Japan made a

historical pivot out of negative rates last week.

However, losses were widespread, with many index

heavyweights down on Monday as profit-taking reigned.

Chip-making equipment giant Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) was down

0.6% and staffing agency Recruit Holdings ( RCRRF ) declined

2.6%.

The market is seeing a pause in momentum after rising as

high as it has, with technical factors likely to weigh on the

index this week, Namioka, added.

Wall Street also hit pause on Friday following record runs,

weighing on trader sentiment in Japan on Monday.