The is a limited express

Limited express

A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...

 train service in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 operated by JR Shikoku which runs from Okayama

Okayama Station

is a railway station located in the ward of Kita-ku, city of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The station is operated by West Japan Railway Company ....

 to Kōchi

Kochi Station (Kochi)

is a railway station on the Dosan Line of the Shikoku Railway Company located in the city center of Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.In front of the station is Kōchi-Ekimae Station, a tram stop on the Tosa Electric Railway Sanbashi Line....

 and Sukumo

Sukumo Station

is a railway station in Sukumo, Kōchi, Japan, operated by the Tosa Kuroshio Railway.-Station layout:The elevated station consists of two bay platforms serving two terminating tracks....

. Trains are usually formed of 3-car 2000 series DMUs, and often run coupled with Shimanto

Shimanto (train)

The is a limited express train service in Japan operated by JR Shikoku which runs from Takamatsu to Kōchi and Sukumo. Trains are formed of 3-car 2000 series DMUs, and often run coupled with Nanpū services....

services.

History

Nanpu services began as a semi express from the former Takamatsu Sanbashi Station

Takamatsu Station

Takamatsu Station is the name of multiple train stations in Japan.* Takamatsu Station - in Kagawa Prefecture* Takamatsu Station - in Ishikawa Prefecture* Takamatsu Station - in Tokyo...

 to Kubokawa in Shikoku

Shikoku

is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...

 from 1 October 1950. From 1 October 1968, however, the name was used for express trains operating in Kyushu

Kyushu

is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....

 between Beppu

Beppu Station

250px|thumb|Beppu Station is the main railway station for the city of Beppu in Ōita Prefecture, Japan, which is famous for its onsen. It is situated on the Nippō Main Line...

 and Nishi-Kagoshima. From 15 March 1972, the name returned to Shikoku, for limited express trains operating between Takamatsu and Nakamura.