E2 Series Shinkansen

Its first year had two distinct debuts: the 8-car "N" sets opened new Asama services between Takasaki and Nagano from 1 October 1997, while the J sets entered Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko duties coupled to E3 series Akita Shinkansen Komachi units via retractable couplers behind nose doors. The original "E2-0" batches were classified E2 and E2'; the later E2-1000 subseries, whose prototype set J51 began service on 20 November 2001, added wide windows like the E4 series, single-arm pantographs and a 50 Hz-only design for new Hayate services after the December 2002 Tohoku extension to Hachinohe. On the Tohoku Shinkansen the type runs at a maximum service speed of 275 km/h, the N sets being limited to 260 km/h.

A derivative, China Railway's CRH2, was developed from the E2-1000 design: in 2006 three complete sets plus parts for 57 more were exported with the manufacturing technology transferred to China, making it the second Shinkansen design exported after Taiwan's 700T. As E5 and E7 series trains arrived, the E2 was progressively displaced; Hokuriku Asama operation ended on 31 March 2017 and Joetsu operation ended at the March 2023 timetable revision, leaving the remaining sets on the Tohoku Shinkansen, where the type continues in service.

• 1997E2 series enters revenue service on 22 March on Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko services (coupled with E3 series Komachi); 8-car "N" sets open new Asama services on the Nagano Shinkansen from 1 October.
• 2001E2-1000 subseries enters service: prototype set J51 begins revenue operation on 20 November.
• 2002Hayate service introduced (from 1 December) following the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe; J sets lengthened to 10 cars and E2-1000 sets J52 onward enter Tohoku service.
• 2012From the 17 March timetable revision, E2-1000 sets take over some E4 "Max Yamabiko" runs on Yamabiko services coupled with Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa; maximum speed raised to 275 km/h.
• 2013Withdrawals of E2 series "J" sets begin in October (sets J2 and J3); E2 redeployed to Joetsu Shinkansen Toki/Tanigawa from 26 January, replacing 200 series.
• 2017Last E2 series Asama run on the Hokuriku Shinkansen takes place on 31 March; N sets withdrawn from service.
• 2019E2 series (including E2-1000) removed from Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate services at the 16 March timetable revision; E2-1000 withdrawals begin with set J51.
• 2023Effective 18 March, all sets are withdrawn from Joetsu Shinkansen services (following operating-speed upgrades from 240 to 275 km/h) and restricted to the Tohoku Shinkansen.