Nikkei falls 1.1 pct as blue chips sold

(Updates to midday)

TOKYO, April 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 1.1 percent on Tuesday, led lower by blue chip exporters such as Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) as a stronger yen prompted investors to lock in profit after the market's five days of gains.

Japan's largest brokerage, Nomura Holdings Inc (8604.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), fell nearly 4 percent after an investigation was launched into one of its employees on suspicion of insider trading. [ID:nTFA003078]

The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 ended the morning down 153.74 points to 13,542.81. The broader TOPIX index lost 1.4 percent to 1,312.99. (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka)