UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
	Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM N-17f-2

Certificate of Accounting
of Securities and Similar
Investments in the Custody
of
Management Investment
Companies
Pursuant to Rule 17f-2 [17
CFR 270.17F-2]



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1. Investment Company Act File Number:

811-06142
Date examination
completed:

December 5, 2003
2. State identification Number:

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO

CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
HI

ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY

LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN

MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH

NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH

OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD

TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA

WV
WI
WY
PUERTO RICO

Other (specify):
3. Exact name of investment company as specified in registration statement:

The Japan Equity Fund, Inc.
4. Address of principal executive office (number, street, city, state, zip
code):

John O'Keefe One Evertrust Plaza 9th Floor,  Jersey City, NJ 07302


INSTRUCTIONS

This Form must be completed by investment companies that have custody
of securities or similar investments.

Investment Company

1.	All items must be completed by the investment company.

2.	Give this Form to the independent public accountant who, in
compliance with Rule 17f-2 under the Act and applicable state law,
examines securities and similar investments in the custody of the
investment company.

Accountant

3.	Submit this Form to the Securities and Exchange Commission and
appropriate state securities administrators when filing the
certificate of accounting required by Rule 17f-2 under the Act and
applicable state law.  File the original and one copy with the
Securities and Exchange Commission's principal office in
Washington, D.C., one copy with the regional office for the region
in which the investment company's principal business operations
are conducted, and one copy with the appropriate state
administrator(s), if applicable.

	THIS FORM MUST BE GIVEN TO YOUR INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
	SEC 2198 (11-91)