Japanese stocks fall, buffered by bank gains

(Updates to midsession)

TOKYO, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks fell for the fifth day on Tuesday, tracking falls on Wall Street, which was hit by fears of stagflation amid a housing slump and surging prices.

But the market pared some earlier losses after bank stocks including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (8306.T) reversed to post strong gains.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 ended the morning session down 0.8 percent at 15,132.48 and the broader TOPIX fell 0.5 percent to 1,465.90. (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka)