Japan National Railways (JNR) was the state-owned railway company in Japan that operated from 1949 until 1987. It was responsible for the majority of the country's rail services, including passenger and freight transport. JNR played a crucial role in the development of Japan's modern transportation infrastructure, including the introduction of the Shinkansen, or bullet train, which revolutionized high-speed travel. In 1987, JNR was privatized and divided into several regional companies, known as the Japan Railways Group (JR Group). This restructuring aimed to improve efficiency and service quality. Today, the JR Group continues to operate extensive rail networks across Japan, maintaining the legacy of JNR's contributions to the country's transportation system.