Japan shares suffer worst fall in 4 months on earnings fears

* Nikkei, Topix make second biggest fall so far this year

* Concerns about upcoming earnings season lead to broad selling

* Volatility index jumps after put buying

* Canon falls 4.0% on media report of likely profit warnings

* Animation-related firms hit after suspected arson at studio

By Hideyuki Sano

TOKYO, July 18 (Reuters) - Japanese shares recorded their biggest one-day fall in nearly four months on Thursday as dismal export data and weak U.S. corporate earnings raised fresh worries about fallout from the Sino-U.S. trade war.

The Nikkei share average .N225 fell 1.97% to 21,046.24 points, hitting a one-month low and marking its second biggest slide so far this year only after a 3% plunge on March 25.

The broader Topix .TOPX fell 2.11% to a one-month closing low of 1,534.27.

"The earnings of global manufacturers will be soft for now. Investors are on the sidelines and waiting to buy on dips only if the Nikkei falls below 21,000," said Takashi Hiroki, chief strategist at Monex Securities.

As the U.S. earnings season kicked off, weak results from railway transport company CSX Corp CSX.O stoked concerns that the protracted trade standoff between the United States and China could hurt the profits of U.S. companies.

The outlook is seen even bleaker in Japan as companies struggle with the U.S.-China tariff war amid deteriorating global conditions that have dragged on its exports.

Japan's June exports to China dropped more than 10% from a year earlier, its sixth fall in the past seven months, trade data showed on Thursday. of Japanese earnings seasons that will start later this month, Canon 7751.T fell 4.0% after the Nikkei business daily reported its operating profit was on track to sink 40% this year. Corp 7240.T fell 6.4% after the manufacturer of sealant products slashed its earnings outlook, cutting its annual operating profit estimates by 34% on weak sales of car-related products in North America and China.

Nikkei's slide accelerated after a few major technical support levels, including 25- and 50-day moving averages.

Some brokerages bought a large amount of Nikkei put options with strike price of 20,000 -- essentially bets that the Nikkei will fall below that level -- to cover their trade with clients, further weakening the mood.

As a result, the Nikkei volatility index .JNIV , which hit two-year low of 13.01 the previous day, jumped to 16.44, making the biggest jump in nearly four months.

A broad range of shares came under pressure, including both cyclicals as well as defensive shares, with decliners outnumbering advancers by 96 to 2 on the main board.

Some shares with link to animation-making industry were hit after more than 10 people are feared dead in a suspected case of arson at an animation studio in Kyoto. company Toho 9602.T fell 4.5% while Toei Animation 4816.T dropped 3.2%. Entertainment firm Bandai Namco 7832.T lost 3.2%.

Elsewhere, Akebono Brake Industry Co Ltd 7238.T rose 7.8% after the troubled car parts maker said it expects to receive investment from a corporate turnaround fund to help restructure its money-losing business.