Kodama (train)
Stopping at every station, the "Kodama" is the slowest Shinkansen service for trips between major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. The Kodama trains are used primarily for travel to and from smaller cities such as Atami. Travelers between major cities generally take the "Nozomi" or "Hikari" services, which make fewer stops. The name of the train comes from the Japanese word "kodama", which means "echo". Shinkansen "Kodama". "Kodama" trains generally run over shorter distances than "Nozomi" and "Hikari" trains. Typical "Kodama" runs include Tokyo - Nagoya / Shin-Osaka, Tokyo - Mishima / Shizuoka / Hamamatsu, Mishima / Shizuoka / Nagoya - Shin-Osaka, and  Shin-Osaka / Okayama / Hiroshima - Hakata as well as some shorter late-night runs. The trainsets used for "Kodama" service are the same 700 series, and N700 series trains used for the "Hikari" and "Nozomi" services. Older 100 series and 300 series trains were also used for "Kodama" services on the Sanyō Shinkansen until they were withdrawn in 2012. In December 2008, reconfigured 500 series trains entered "Kodama" service to replace the withdrawn Sanyō Shinkansen 0 series trains. Many Sanyō Shinkansen "Kodama" services continue to and from Hakata-Minami on the Hakata-Minami Line. Most "Kodama" trains have both reserved and  non-reserved cars; however, some morning "Kodama" trains to Tokyo and evening trains departing Tokyo have non-reserved cars only to accommodate commuters living in Kanagawa and Shizuoka. The newest shinkansen trainset, the N700, is currently used on some early morning and late night "Kodama" runs between Kokura and Hakata stations in Kyushu. All standard-class cars are non-reserved, and, as with all other N700 services, there is no smoking on these trains except in designated on-board smoking rooms. At most intermediate stations, "Kodama" trains wait for faster trains, such as the "Nozomi", "Hikari", "Sakura", and "Mizuho", to  pass through before resuming their journeys. History. Limited express "Kodama". "Kodama" debuted as a limited express service on the Tokaido Main Line on 1 November 1958. Services used 151 series trainsets. This was the first EMU train service of the Japanese National Railways classified as a limited express, the highest (fastest) of train types on the national railway system. The train travelled between Tokyo Station and Osaka Station in six hours and 50 minutes and first enabled passengers to go and return between the two cities in one day. This is why the train was named "Kodama", or echo. A  narrow gauge world speed record of 163 km/h was established by a 151 series "Kodama" trainset on 31 July 1959. The conventional "Kodama" train ran until 30 September 1964, the day before "Kodama" debuted on the Shinkansen. Shinkansen "Kodama". The shinkansen "Kodama" services began on 1 October 1964, operating between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. On 17 March 2012, the remaining 100 series (K) sets were withdrawn from "Kodama" services and 700 series (8-car E set) "Kodama" services became entirely no-smoking. Onboard trolley refreshment services were discontinued on all JR Central "Kodama" services from 17 March 2012. Also , some of the 16-car 500 series that used to run as the "Nozomi" service were cut short to eight cars to run as the "Kodama" service.