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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Bq8sYM44mAB/YceJGUEGvP6OcBX9q35xbtPTcCcNA2aGemWTdW0gyrrA3WiPCz+G
 fCPD1nMm90ChUIsezdhFQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001250381-04-000003.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0001250381-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107155414
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001250381-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JAPAN EQUITY FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000866095
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				223060893
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA
		STREET 2:		C/O DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST CO
		CITY:			JERSEY CITY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2019153054

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST CO
		STREET 2:		ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA
		CITY:			JERSEY CITY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07302

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JAPAN EMERGING EQUITY FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920407

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARMER DAVID G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001273802

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-06142
		FILM NUMBER:		04513231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA
		STREET 2:		DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST CO
		CITY:			JERSEY CITY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2019153054

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA
		STREET 2:		DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST CO
		CITY:			JERSEY CITY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07302
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866095</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JAPAN EQUITY FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JEQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273802</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARMER DAVID G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST CO</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JERSEY CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07302</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-01-05</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>834</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1834</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dvid G. Harmer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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