noun
Japanese National Railways
Historical term for the state-owned railway company that operated from 1949 until its privatization in 1987, when it was split into the JR Group.
日本国有鉄道は1987年に分割民営化された。
Japanese National Railways was divided and privatized in 1987.
JR is the post-1987 group of companies that succeeded Japanese National Railways.
Compound of 日本 (Japan), 国有 (state-owned), and 鉄道 (railway).