EXHIBIT A

              SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

                                  May 19, 2004

Credit Suisse Asset Management Limited
3-1 Toranomon 4-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Japan

Dear Sirs:

                  This amends the Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of
May 1, 2002, and amended July 22, 2002 (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement"), by and
among the Japan Equity Fund (the "Fund"), Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC
("CSAM") and Credit Suisse Asset Management Limited (Tokyo) (the "Sub-Adviser").
Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings
set forth in the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

                  In consideration of the covenants and agreements expressed
herein, the parties agree as follows:

                  1.       Effective May [19], 2004, Schedule A to the
Sub-Advisory Agreement will read as follows:

                                   "SCHEDULE A

                  CSAM will pay the Sub-Adviser a fee equal to ninety percent of
          the fee that CSAM collects from shareholders (the "Total Fee"), one
          quarter of which shall be payable in U.S. dollars in arrears on the
          last business day of each calendar quarter. Should the Total Fee be
          decreased by CSAM for any reason and at any time, the Sub-Adviser
          shall be paid ninety percent of such decreased fee. The fee for the
          first period during which this Agreement is in effect shall be
          pro-rated for the portion of the calendar quarter that the Agreement
          is in effect. The Total Fee shall be an aggregate fee paid for
          services rendered with respect to this Fund and such other Credit
          Suisse Funds for which the Sub-Adviser has been appointed as such and
          which CSAM and the Sub-Adviser agree will be governed by this fee
          schedule.

                  The portion of the Total Fee allocable with respect to the
          Fund for any calendar quarter or portion thereof is equal to the
          product of (a) the Total Fee and (b) a fraction: (i) the numerator of
          which is the average monthly net assets of the Fund during such
          calendar quarter or portion thereof and (ii) the denominator of which
          is the aggregate average monthly net assets of the Fund and other
          registered investment companies for which the Sub-Adviser has been
          appointed as such during such calendar quarter or portion thereof
          (rounded to the nearest thousand dollars)."



                  2. Fees shall cease to accrue under the previous compensation
structure on [May 19 ], 2004 and such fees shall be paid to the Sub-Adviser as
soon as practicable after the end of the month of May 2004.

                  3. The parties agree that the provisions of the Sub-Advisory
Agreement, except as amended by this Amendment shall continue in full force and
effect.

                            [signature page follows]





                  Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding by indicating your acceptance hereof at the place below indicated,
whereupon it shall become a binding agreement between us.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

                                             By: /s/Hal Liebes
                                                 -------------
                                             Name:  Hal Liebes
                                             Title: Managing Director

                                             CREDIT SUISSE JAPAN EQUITY FUND

                                             By: /s/Hal Liebes
                                                 -------------
                                             Name:  Hal Liebes

                                             Title: Vice President and Secretary

CREDIT SUISSE ASSET
MANAGEMENT LIMITED

By:/s/Shogo Yamaguchi
   ------------------
Name: Shogo Yamaguchi
Title: Representative Director and President