PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE: JEQ), a closed-end equity fund, announced today its performance data and portfolio composition as of August 31, 2017.

The Fund's total returns for various periods through August 31, 2017 are provided below. (All figures are based on distributions reinvested at the dividend reinvestment price and are stated net-of-fees):



             Cumulative as of
                     08/31/17        Annualized as of 08/31/17
            -----------------        -------------------------

                1 Month       3 Month               YTD         1 Year      3 Years     5 Years      10 Years     Since Inception
                -------       -------               ---         ------      -------     -------      --------     ---------------

    NAV                  -0.1            1.7               14.6         9.3         9.4         14.5          2.9                 2.1
    ---                  ----            ---               ----         ---         ---         ----          ---                 ---

     Market
     Price                0.8            3.0               18.2        12.1         9.6         14.4          2.5                 1.7
     ------               ---            ---               ----        ----         ---         ----          ---                 ---

    TOPIX                 0.3            3.8               14.2        16.8         8.3         11.8          2.6                 3.2
    -----                 ---            ---               ----        ----         ---         ----          ---                 ---

On August 31, 2017, the Fund's net assets amounted to US$129.5 million and the Fund's NAV per share was US$9.68.

As of August 31, 2017, the portfolio was invested as follows:



    Portfolio Composition  Percent of
                           Net Assets
    ---                    ----------

    Consumer Staples                  19.4
    ----------------                  ----

    Industrials                       18.8
    -----------                       ----

    Consumer Discretionary            14.6
    ----------------------            ----

    Information Technology            10.8
    ----------------------            ----

    Health Care                       10.5
    -----------                       ----

    Materials                          8.9
    ---------                          ---

    Financials                         7.3
    ----------                         ---

    Real Estate                        5.1
    -----------                        ---

    Telecommunications                 3.8
    ------------------                 ---

    Cash                               0.7
    ----                               ---

The Fund's ten largest equity holdings as of August 31, 2017, representing 41.4% of net assets, were:



    Stock                        Percent of
                                 Net Assets
    ---                          ----------

    Keyence Corp.                                           5.6
    -------------                                           ---

    Shin-Etsu Chemical                                      5.4
    ------------------                                      ---

    Japan Tobacco                                           4.7
    -------------                                           ---

    Seven & I Holdings                                      4.1
    ------------------                                      ---

    KDDI Corp.                                              3.8
    ----------                                              ---

    Nabtesco Corp.                                          3.8
    --------------                                          ---

    Fanuc                                                   3.7
    -----                                                   ---

    Amada Holdings                                          3.6
    --------------                                          ---

    Yahoo Japan                                             3.6
    -----------                                             ---

    Pigeon Corp.                                            3.1
    ------------                                            ---

Important Information

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. (the "Administrator") has prepared this report based on information sources believed to be accurate and reliable. All reasonable care has been taken to ensure accuracy. However, the figures are unaudited and neither the Fund, the Administrator, Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited (the "Investment Manager"), nor any other person guarantees their accuracy. Investors should seek their own professional advice and should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before acting on this information.

The Investment Manager and the Administrator are each a subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC ("Aberdeen PLC"). The merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen PLC, announced on March 6, 2017 ("Merger"), closed on August 14, 2017. Aberdeen PLC became a direct subsidiary of Standard Life plc as a result of the Merger and the combined company changed its name to Standard Life Aberdeen plc. Shareholders of the Fund are not required to take any action as a result of the Merger. Following the Merger, the Fund's Investment Manager and Administrator are each an indirect subsidiary of Standard Life Aberdeen plc, but otherwise did not change. The investment management and administration agreements for the Fund, the services provided under the agreements, and the fees charged for services did not change as a result of the Merger. The portfolio management team for the Fund did not change as a result of the Merger.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Total return figures with distributions reinvested at the dividend reinvestment price are stated net-of-fees and represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results, current performance may be higher or lower. Holdings are subject to change and are provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell the securities shown. Inception date July 24, 1992.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact: InvestorRelations@aberdeen-asset.com

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SOURCE Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc.