JR meaning in Regional ?

The Japan Railways Group, more commonly known as JR Group (JRグループ, Jeiāru Gurūpu), consists of seven for-profit stock companies that took over most of the assets and operations of the government-owned Japanese National Railways (JNR) on April 1, 1987. Most of the liability of the JNR was assumed by the JNR Settlement Corporation.

The JR Group lies at the heart of Japan's railway network, operating a large proportion of intercity rail service (including the Shinkansen high-speed rail lines) and commuter rail service.

Despite 'JR East', 'JR Central', 'JR West', and 'JR Kyushu' now having full private ownership, Japanese people still generally speak of "private railways" separate of 'JR' — as if none of the JR Group companies (nor former JR lines that are now third sector), are any part of those, since 'JR' are the successor of Japanese National Railways. Moreover: 'JR Hokkaido', 'JR Shikoku', and 'JR Freight' ('JRF') are still governed by the Act for the Passenger Railway Companies and Japan Freight Railway Company, also known as the 'JR Companies Act' – under the control of the public Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (JRTT).

On maps, 'JR' and other private railways are almost always denoted differently, as does JR do itself.