Japanese Train Symbols

Here are the detailed explanations and information regarding the naming and numbering schemes used for all the Japanese train symbols.

Electric Trains | Shinkansen Bullet Trains | Diesel Trains | Electric Locomotives
Diesel Locomotives | Passenger Cars | Freight Cars

Electric Trains
(Except Shinkansen Bullet Trains)

(1)=Type   (2)=Usage   (3)=Electric System   (4)=Classification   (5)=Developed Order
(6)=Classification Number   (7)=Manufacturing Number
(1) Type This symbol shows if the car is equipped with a motor or a cab.

Symbol Type Examples
KUMO Motorized with Cab   KUMOHA, KUMORO, KUMOYA  
MO Motorized MOHA, MORO, MOHANE
KU Cab KUHA, KURO, KURU
SA Accompanying car SAHA, SARO, SAHASI

Basic type are MO, KU and SA.
Car with a cab is equipped with a motorman's seat (similar cars at both ends).
Accompanying car is a train car without a motor or a cab.
(2) Usage This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol Type Examples
RO First class KUMORO, MORO, KURO, SARO
HA Normal class KUMOHA, MOHA, KUHA, SAHA
RONE First class Sleeping car SARONE
HANE Normal class Sleeping car   MOHANE, KUHANE, SAHANE
SI Dining car SAHASI
NI Luggage car KUMONI
YA Crew car MOYA, SAYA
YU Mail car KUMOYUNI
RU Storage car KUMORU, KURU

Symbols may be combined with (1)Type and (2)Usage. For example, SAHASI, KUMOYUNI...
(3) Electric System This symbol shows which electric is used for the car.

Number Type Examples
1 -3 Direct Current (DC)
(can only run on Direct current section)
Series 103, 221, 381
4 - 6 Direct and Alternating Current (DC/AC)
(equipped with an inverter and can run on both sections)  
Series 485, 521, 683
7 - 8 Alternating Current (AC)
(can only run on Alternating Current section)  
Series 731, 787, 813
9 Trial car Series 991
(4) Classification This symbol shows what type of train it is.

Number Type Examples
0 - 3 Normal train (Commuter train, Suburban train)   Series 103, 415, 221, E331
4 Working train (Inspection car, Rescue car) KUMOYA145
5 - 8 Express train Series E255, 373, 681
9 Trial train Series 991
(5) Developed Order This number is used as a developed order of the train but this may not apply to newly developed trains.
(6) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number such as Type *000.

For example, Series 223 had the following classification numbers: Type 0, Type 100, Type 1000, Type 2000, Type 2500, Type 5000
(7) Manufacturing Number Basically, manufacturing number is named starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.
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Shinkansen Bullet Trains

(1)=Classification   (2)=Usage   (3)=Type   (4)=Classification Number   (5)=Manufacturing Number
(1) Classification These are the Shinkansen trains operated currently:

[JR Tokai]  Tokaido, Sanyo Shinkansen
  • 3 = Series 300  Nozomi, HIkari, Kodama
  • 7 = Series 700  Nozomi, HIkari, Kodama
  • 7 = Series N700
[JR West]  Tokaido, Sanyo Shinkansen
  • 0 = Series 0  Kodama
  • 1 = Series 100 Kodama
  • 3 = Series 300 Hikari, Kodama
  • 5 = Series 500 Nozomi
  • 7 = Series 700 Nozomi, HIkari, Kodama
[JR Kyushu]  Kyushu Shinkansen
  • 8 = Series 800
[JR East]  Tohoku, Jouetsu, Nagano, Yamagata, Akita Shinkansen
  • 2 = Series 200
  • 4 = Series 400
  • E1 = Series E1
  • E2 = Series E2
  • E3 = Series E3
  • E4 = Series E4
(2) Usage
  • 1 = First Class
  • 2 = Normal Class
  • 3 = Dining Car
  • 4 = First Class Double Decker
  • 5 = Normal Class Double Decker
  • 6 = Dining Car Double Decker / First Class & Normal Class combination
  • 7 = First Class & Normal Class Double Decker / First Class
  • 8 = Normal Class
* There are some cars where this numbering format may not apply.
(3) Type
  • 1-2 = Motorized with Cab (equipped with a motorman's seat)
  • 3-4 = Cab (equipped with a motorman's seat)
  • 5-7 = Motorized
  • 8-9 = Accompanying car
(4) Classification Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number such as Type 3000, 5000, 7000
(7) Manufacturing Number The manufacturing number is numbered starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.
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Diesel Trains

(1)=Diesel Train   (2)=Usage   (3)=Engine   (4)=Cab   (5)=Manufacturing Number
(1) Diesel Train All Diesel Train start with the symbol "KI".
A car with a cab and without a motor is named as "KU".
A car without a cab and a motor is named as "SA".
(2) Usage This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol Usage
RO First class
HA Normal class
RONE First class Sleeping car
HANE Normal class Sleeping car
SI Dining car
NI Luggage car
YA Crew car
YU Mail car
RU Storage car
(3) Engine
  • 0 = Mechanical Gas Electric Engine
  • 1 = Engine with Torque Converter (body width 2.6 meter)
  • 2-4 = Engine with Torque Converter (body width 2.8 meter)
  • 5 = Two Engine with Torque Converter
  • 6-7 = High Power Engine with Torque Converter
  • 8 = High Power Engine with Torque Converter (Express Type)
  • 9 = Trial Car
(4) Cab
  • 0-4 = Cab on both ends
  • 5-9 = Cab on one end or car without a cab
(5) Manufacturing Number The manufacturing number is named starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.
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Electric Locomotives

(1)=Electric Locomotive   (2)=Number of Driving Axles   (3)=Electric System and Speed   (4)=Developed Order
(5)=Classification Number   (6)=Manufacturing Number
(1) Electric Locomotive All Electric Locomotive starts with the symbol "E".
(2) Number of Driving Axles This shows how many driving axles the locomotive is equipped with.
  • D = 4 driving axles   -   Examples: ED75, ED76, ED79

  • F = 6 driving axles   -   Examples: EF66, EF81, EF210

  • H = 8 driving axles   -   Examples: EH500, EH200
(3) Electric System and Speed Japan National Railway Type (this will not apply to new locomotives which have 3 digit numbers)
  • 1-2 = Direct Current (DC) - Low Speed   -   Examples: EF15, ED18
  • 3 = Direct and Alternating Current (DC/AC) - Low Speed   This locomotive does not exist
  • 4 = Alternating Current (AC) - Low Speed   This locomotive does not exist
  • 5-6 = Direct Current (DC) - High Speed   -   Examples: EF58, EF65, EF66
  • 7 = Alternating current (AC) - High Speed   -   Examples: ED75, ED76, ED79
  • 8 = Direct and Alternating Current (DC/AC) - High Speed   -   Examples: EF81
  • 9 = Trial Car
Low Speed would be maximum speed lower than 85km/h.
High speed would be maximum speed higher than 85km/h.
Newly developed locomotives with 3 digit numbers are of the following 6 types:
  • Direct Current (High Speed) - EF200, EF210, EH200
  • Alternating Current (High Speed) - EF500, EH500, EF510
(4) Developed Order This number is used as a developed order of the locomotive but this may not apply to newly developed locomotives.
(5) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number (there are some locomotives without this number).
(6) Manufacturing Number The manufacturing number is allocated starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.
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Diesel Locomotives

(1)=Diesel Locomotive   (2)=Number of Driving Axles   (3)=Speed   (4)=Developed Order
(5)=Classification Number   (6)=Manufacturing Number
(1) Diesel Locomotive All Diesel Locomotives start with the symbol "D".
(2) Number of Driving Axles This shows how many driving axle the locomotive is equipped.
  • D = 4 driving axle   -   Example: DD51
  • E = 5 driving axle   -   Example: DE10
  • F = 6 driving axle   -   Example: DF200
(3) Speed Japan National Railway Type (this will not apply to new locomotives)
  • 1-4 = Low Speed   -   Example: DE10
  • 5-8 = High Speed   -   Example: DD51
  • 9 = Trial Car
Low Speed would be maximum speed lower than 85km/h.
High speed would be maximum speed higher than 85km/h.
(4) Developed Order This number is used as a developed order of the locomotive but this may not apply to newly developed locomotives.
(5) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number (there are some locomotives without this number).
(6) Manufacturing Number The manufacturing number is allocated starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.
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Passenger Cars

(1)=Weight Category   (2)=Usage   (3)=Electric System   (4)=Classification   (5)=Developed Order
(6)=Classification Number   (7)=Manufacturing Number
(1) Weight Category This symbol shows the weight of the car.

Symbol Weight Examples
KA More than 47.5 tons   KANI, KAYA
MA 42.5-47.5 tons MAITE, MANI
SU 37.5-2.5 tons SUHA, SUROFU
O 32.5-37.5 tons OHA, ORONE
NA 27.5-32.5 tons NAHA, NASI
HO 22.5-27.5 tons
KO Less than 22.5 tons
(2) Usage This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol Usage Examples
I Old Type First class   MAITE
RO First class ORO, ORONE
HA Normal class SUHA, OHANE
NE Sleeping car RONE, HANE
SI Dining car OSI, SUSI
YU Mail car OYU, SUYUNI
NI Luggage car KANI, MANI
YA Crew car OYA, MAYA
TE Observation car MAITE, OKUHATE
E Relief car SUE
FU Conductors car SUHAFU, OHANEFU (car equipped with a conductors cabin)
KU Cab car OKUHATE (car equipped with a motorman's seat)
(3) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number such as Type 20.
(4) Car Number Car number (each number are different with the cars).
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Freight Cars

(1)=Usage   (2)=Weight Category   (3)=Classification Number
(1) Usage This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol Usage Examples
WA Freight car with roof WAMU80000    
RE Refrigerator car RE12000
NA Live fish car
TA Tank car TAKI43000
HO Hopper car HOKI9500
SE Coal car SEKI6000
TO Freight car without roof   TOKI25000
RI Sand car
CHI Long goods car CHI1
SHI Heavy duty car SHIKI800
KU Vehicle transporter car KU5000
KO Container car KOKI10000
YO Caboose car YO8000
KI Snowplow car KI100
YA Inspection car
E Rescue car
(2) Weight Category This symbol shows the load capacity of each car.

Symbol Weight
- Less than 16 tons  
MU 14-16 tons
RA 17-19 tons
SA 20-24 tons
KI More than 25 tons
(3) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, cars have a classification number.
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