  the  was a shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by japanese national railways (jnr) for the tohoku shinkansen and joetsu shinkansen high-speed rail lines in japan, and operated by east japan railway company (jr east) until 2013. they actually predated the 100 series trains, having been built between 1980 and 1986. it was one of the two recipients of the 23rd laurel prize presented by the japan railfan club, the first shinkansen type to receive that award. the last remaining sets were retired from regular service in march 2013, and were completely withdrawn from service in april 2013. ==design== the 200 series shinkansen trains resembled the earlier 0 series trains in styling (some later units had the pointed 'shark nose' of the 100 series), but were lighter and more powerful, since these two lines are mountain routes and have steeper gradients. these lines are also prone to snowfall and the trains had small snowplows fitted, as well as protection of equipment against snow. they were originally painted in ivory with a green window band and lower bodyside band, but a number of sets were refurbished and painted into a white-upper/dark blue-lower scheme with new wrap-around cab windows from 1999. the first units were capable of  but later ones can d
1982_introductions East_Japan_Railway_Company Hitachi_multiple_units Kawasaki_rolling_stock Kinki_Sharyo_rolling_stock Laurel_Prize_winners Nippon_Sharyo_rolling_stock Passenger_train_running_at_least_at_200_km/h_in_commercial_operations Shinkansen_train_series Tokyu_Car_rolling_stock