In June 2016, JR Central announced plans to build a new prototype "N700S" 16-car trainset (with "S" standing for "Supreme") for evaluating new technology and features on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines from March 2018.
[3][8] Other features include larger luggage storage, closed-circuit television and "softer, more relaxing" interior lighting.
[11] A 16-car prototype set (J0), assembled at the Nippon Sharyo Toyokawa plant, was unveiled at JR Central's Hamamatsu depot on 10 March 2018.
[2] The first full-production J set (J1) was delivered to JR Central in April 2020, with trains entering revenue service on 1 July 2020.
[8] JR Central announced in May 2022 that it would add 19 trainsets (304 vehicles) to their current N700S fleet at a cost of 114 billion yen ($897m).
[4] In June 2024, JR Central announced that the Doctor Yellow inspection trains would be replaced by stock-standard N700S trainsets with special monitoring equipment.
[18] On March 15, 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail announced it will purchase 12 new 12-car trains based on N700S to supplement its older THSR 700T sets.
[19] The first N700S sets replaced 700 series trains, and added more rolling stock needed to realize the increased amount of services on the Tokaido Shinkansen planned from 2020.
[17][16] The train is also planned to run on the proposed Texas Central Railway high-speed line connecting Dallas and Houston.
He sought to make the ride "more fun and relaxing" through the inclusion of colors and shapes to the train's design.