<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Japan
Fund Semiannual Report for the period ended 6/30/2000 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000053192
<NAME> THE JAPAN FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 010
<NAME> THE JAPAN FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 704,080
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 860,218
<RECEIVABLES> 37,133
<ASSETS-OTHER> 7
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 897,359
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 17,659
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 30,631
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 48,290
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 523,016
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (27,381)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 197,366
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 156,068
<NET-ASSETS> 849,069
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,387
<INTEREST-INCOME> 850
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4,552
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (1,314)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (197,597)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (214,722)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (18,439)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 16,987
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (17,014)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (240,184)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 370,791
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 55,009
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 7,308
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,334
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 154
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4,561
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 106
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.61
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.03)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.26)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.32
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .24
</TABLE>
