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THE JAPAN FUND, INC.
Supplement to Prospectus
Dated May 1, 1998
The following replaces the section entitled "Minimum balances" under the
"Transaction Information" section on page 18:
Minimum balances
Shareholders should maintain a share balance worth at least $2,500, which amount
may be changed by the Board of Directors. A shareholder may open an account with
at least $1,000, if an automatic investment plan of $100/month is established.
Scudder retirement plans and certain other accounts have similar or lower
minimum share balance requirements.
The Fund reserves the right, following 60 days' written notice to applicable
shareholders, to:
o assess an annual $10 per fund charge (with the fee to be paid to the
fund) for any non-fiduciary account without an automatic investment
plan in place and a balance of less than $2,500; and
o redeem all shares in fund accounts below $1,000 where a reduction in
value has occurred due to a redemption, exchange or transfer out of
the account. The Fund will mail the proceeds of the redeemed account
to the shareholder.
Reductions in value that result solely from market activity will not trigger an
involuntary redemption. Shareholders with a combined household account balance
in any of the Scudder Funds of $100,000 or more, as well as group retirement and
certain other accounts will not be subject to a fee or automatic redemption.
Fiduciary and custodial accounts with balances below $100 are subject to
automatic redemption following 60 days' written notice to applicable
shareholders.
Please refer to "Exchanges and Redemptions -- Other Information" in the Fund's
Statement of Additional Information for more information.
October 30, 1998
