Kato has announced three Japanese N scale releases for early 2027: a Special Edition 923-3000 Series “Doctor Yellow” 7-car set, new 119 Series Iida Line sets, and a 6-car Chizu Express HOT7000 “Super Hakuto” with two HOT7020 gangway cab cars.
The Doctor Yellow 7-car set (10-2259, ¥30,250) models JR West’s T5 trainset with the “Thank You” logos now carried on the door windows of Cars 1 and 7, packed in a special sleeve. The 3-car basic set (10-896S) and 4-car add-on set (10-897) return at new prices. Features include working inspection floodlights near the pantographs on Cars 2 and 6, side windows shown with the inspection-run blinds lowered, rooftop inspection domes and equipment, two-tone headlights, Kato diaphragm couplers, a slotless motor, and DCC-friendly wiring. A lighted 923-3001 display piece (12-009) with display track and wheel stop is also offered. The prototype T5 set is scheduled to retire in January 2027.
The 119 Series is offered as a 5000-series 2-car set (10-2225, Ogaki E8 formation), a KuMoHa 119 5100 2-car set (10-2256, dual-cab M5 and M3 cars on a new body), and a Special Edition 4-car set (10-2226) pairing the 0-series E14 formation with the E4 formation in the blue 2009 revival livery. The JR Central sets carry the white body with Shonan stripe and the gray underfloor equipment used from 1992. Features include PS23 pantographs, warm-white LED head/tail lights and destination displays with an on/off switch, body-mounted close couplers, and a slotless motor; the powered cars have no traction tires so sets can run in 1+1, 1+2, 1+1+2 and 2+2 combinations. The 119 Series entered Iida Line service in 1982 and left regular service in 2012.
The HOT7000 “Super Hakuto” 6-car set (10-1694, ¥35,200) follows Kato’s 2021 release with the current formation and two newly tooled HOT7020 gangway cab cars, with their semi-streamlined cab and skirt. Kato’s body-tilting mechanism, mirror-like side windows, white LED head/tail lights, and destination stickers are included. The Super Hakuto links Kyoto and Osaka with Tottori and Kurayoshi over the Chizu Express line; the HOT7000 tilting DMU dates from 1994.
All three are scheduled for January 2027 in Japan, with export sets due in February 2027.
