<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000923184
<NAME> MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS

   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> MATTHEWS JAPAN FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       22,764,118
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      23,280,273
<RECEIVABLES>                                  633,047
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   9,223
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           431,358
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              24,353,901
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      485,126
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            485,126
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        1,149,803
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        1,128,423
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      742,093
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              218,781
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               26,266
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 151,786
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 522,768
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      (125,935)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     1,149,155
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (2,902,438)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      (1,879,218)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       601,550
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      2,158,789
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  2,166,167
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             28,758
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (617,098)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                522,768
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        25,945,437
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            21.70
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.11)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.00