Appointment of Director

JPMorgan Fleming Japanese Smllr Cos
12 September 2003

             JPMORGAN FLEMING JAPANESE SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC



12th September 2003


New Director


The Board of JPMorgan Fleming Japanese Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc
are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Bernard Grigsby II as a
non-executive Director with effect from 31st August 2003.


Mr Grisgby has extensive business experience and is currently the Chief
Executive Officer of Swiss Re Financial Products, part of Swiss Re Financial
Services, and between 1995 and 2001 was the Joint Chief Executive Officer and
Director of Tokai Bank Europe.


There are no further details requiring disclosure under paragraph 16.4 of the
FSA Listing Rules.







For further information, please contact:




Hilary Lowe, Company Secretary
J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Ltd - Secretary 020 7742 6000


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