Built jointly by Nippon Sharyo and Tokyu Car,[1] the type is based on the 415-1500 series EMU design, with all units formed as 2-car sets.

[4] The trains reused some equipment from withdrawn JNR-era EMUs, including the DT32 (motored) and TR69 (trailer) bogies, as well as the pantographs.

[2] Some sets (H10 to H15) were reliveried in an "Akabe" colour scheme for Banetsu West Line services from 2007.

[4] The 719-5000 series consists of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard-gauge two-car sets based at Yamagata Depot for use on the Ou Main Line.

[4] These entered service from November 1991 on the regauged Ou Main Line, replacing the trains previously formed of 50 series coaches hauled by Class EF71 AC electric locomotives.

This entered service from 25 April 2015, operating on the Banetsu West Line between Koriyama and Aizu-Wakamatsu.

[4] The 719-5000 series sets entered service from 5 November 1991 on the re-gauged Ou Main Line between Fukushima and Yamagata.