Japan Railway

Japan Railway, more commonly called JR, is a collective term for seven Japanese private railroad companies.

They are:

• JR Hokkaido (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 (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 (四国旅客鉄道 or JR四国)
• JR Kyusyu (九州旅客鉄道 or JR九州)
• JR Kamotsu (Lit. JR Cargo; 日本貨物鉄道 or JR貨物)

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

History

Kokutetsu (Lit. Japan National Railway; 国鉄 or 日本国有鉄道) was privatized on April 1, 1987 and spread into 11 companies.

See also: List of railway companies in Japan, Railroad, Private railroad, Shinkansen, Transportation in Japan