<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.2A(3)
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a2078082zex-99_2a3.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.2.A(3)
<TEXT>
<Page>

                           THE JAPAN EQUITY FUND, INC.

                             ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

         The Japan Equity Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Corporation"), having its principal office c/o Daiwa Securities Trust Company,
One Evertrust Plaza, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, hereby certifies to the
State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

         FIRST: The Corporation is registered as a closed-end investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and has a class of equity
securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the Corporation has at least three directors who are not officers or employees
of the Corporation; are not acquiring persons (as defined in Section 3-801(b) of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland); are not directors,
officers, affiliates or associates of an acquiring person; and were not
nominated or designated as directors by an acquiring person.

         SECOND: On December 7, 2001, a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation passed resolutions electing to become subject to Sections
3-804(c) and 3-805 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland.

         THIRD:  No other change is intended or effected.

<Page>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Japan Equity Fund, Inc. has caused these
presents to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Vice President and
witnessed by its Secretary on January 10, 2002.



WITNESS                                    THE JAPAN EQUITY FUND, INC.



/s/ Judy Runrun Tu                         /s/ John J. O'Keefe
--------------------                       ----------------------
Name: Judy Runrun Tu                       Name: John J. O'Keefe
Title:  Secretary                          Title:  Vice President


         THE UNDERSIGNED, Vice President of The Japan Equity Fund, Inc., who
executed on behalf of the Corporation the foregoing Articles Supplementary of
which this Certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges the foregoing
Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of said Corporation and hereby
certifies that to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief the matters
and facts set forth therein with respect to the authorization and approval
thereof are true in all material respects under penalties of perjury.





                                        /s/ John J. O'Keefe
                                        --------------------------
                                        Name:  John J. O'Keefe
                                        Title:   Vice President

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
