Japan Dec factory activity contracts at fastest pace in 26 months
Japan's manufacturing activity shrank at the fastest pace in more than two years in December on soft demand and persistent cost pressures, a corporate survey showed on Friday.
Below is an instruction that describes a task. Write a response that appropriately completes the request.

### Instruction: Japan Dec factory activity contracts at fastest pace in 26 months

### Response: Japan's manufacturing activity shrank at the fastest pace in more than two years in December on soft demand and persistent cost pressures, a corporate survey showed on Friday.