The E3 Series Shinkansen ?Komachi? are new Japanese Shinkansen high-speed trains built for the opening of the new Akita Shinkansen 'mini-Shinkansen' line, converted from a regular 1,067 mm (3'6") narrow-gauge line between Morioka and Akita. The line joins with the Tohoku Shinkansen.

Like the 400 Series Shinkansen, these trains are built to a smaller loading gauge to fit on the narrower clearances of the 'mini-Shinkansen'. The initial units built starting in 1997 were 5-car sets, but sixth cars were built to integrate into the existing units by the end of 1998.