日本国铁 (Japan National Railways, JNR) was the state-owned railway company in Japan, operating from 1949 until its privatization in 1987. It managed a vast network of trains, including local, express, and shinkansen (bullet trains), connecting cities and regions across the country. JNR played a crucial role in Japan's post-war economic growth and modernization. In 1987, 日本国铁 was divided into several regional companies, known as the JR Group, which continue to operate the railway services today. This privatization led to improvements in efficiency, service quality, and customer satisfaction, making train travel in Japan one of the most reliable and popular modes of transportation.