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001 A000000 THE JAPAN FUND, INC.
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008 D020001 MA
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012 B000001 84-1489
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012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02107
012 C040001 2291
013 A000001 PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
<PAGE> PAGE 2
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014 A000001 SCUDDER INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
014 B000001 8-298
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015 A000001 BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
015 B000001 C
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020 A000002 NIKKO SECURITIES CO.
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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022 A000007 JEFFRIES & CO.
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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SIGNATURE THOMAS F. MCDONOUGH
TITLE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information
extracted from The Japan Fund, Inc. Semiannual Report
for the period ended June 30, 1996 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> THE JAPAN FUND, INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 470,683,084
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 512,801,663
<RECEIVABLES> 8,523,149
<ASSETS-OTHER> 127,342
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 521,452,154
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,613,680
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5,077,205
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 9,690,885
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 517,492,273
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 52,373,175
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 58,139,460
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 8,217,393
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (56,021,663)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 42,073,266
<NET-ASSETS> 511,761,269
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,534,623
<INTEREST-INCOME> 821,773
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,964,634
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (608,238)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4,008,082)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 23,627,410
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 19,011,090
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,705,845)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 13,130,848
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (19,051,095)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 153,962
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (37,042,904)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 10,531,476
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (52,013,581)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,955,836
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,964,634
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 523,523,177
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.44
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
