Japan Railway - Definition and Overview

Japan Railway, more commonly called JR, is a collective term for the privatized descendants of the former Japanese National Railways, formed when JNR was divided into seven parts on April 1, 1987. In Japan, a strong distinction is still made between JR and "genuine" private railways.

JR Nikko train station. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and built in 1890

The seven JR companies are:

• JR Hokkaido or Hokkaido Railway Company (北海道旅客鉄道 or JR北海道)
• JR Higashi Nihon or East Japan Railway Company (東日本旅客鉄道 or JR東日本)
• JR Tokai or Central Japan Railway Company (東海旅客鉄道 or JR東海)
• JR Nishi Nihon or West Japan Railway Company (西日本旅客鉄道 or JR西日本)
• JR Shikoku or Shikoku Railway Company (四国旅客鉄道 or JR四国)
• JR Kyushu or Kyushu Railway Company (九州旅客鉄道 or JR九州)
• JR Kamotsu or Japan Freight Railway Company (日本貨物鉄道 or JR貨物)

In addition, there is JR Soken (JR総研), a research institution.

See also

• Japanese National Railways
• List of railway companies in Japan
• Private railroad