{{Short description|Brand of microcomputers}}The '''National JR''' series (including some models also sold as the '''Panasonic JR''') was a line of 8-bit personal computers developed by Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd., a division of Matsushita Electric Industrial (now Panasonic). Based on the success of the Sharp MZ and NEC PC-8000 series, these computers aimed primarily at the home computer and educational markets during the early 1980s.

The JR series included four computer models: the JR-100,<ref>{{Cite web |title=MATSUSHITA National JR 100 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=320 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430152203/https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=320 |archive-date=2023-04-30 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}}</ref> the JR-200,<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=MATSUSHITA National JR 200 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=324 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417011111/https://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=324 |archive-date=2023-04-17 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=http://vintagevolts.com/wp-content/uploads/Panasonic-JR-200U-Service-Manual.pdf |title=Service Manual Personal Computer JR-200U |publisher=Panasonic}}</ref> the JR-300<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=MATSUSHITA National JR 300 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=321 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510155752/https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=321 |archive-date=2023-05-10 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}}</ref> and the JR-800.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news |last=Hawkings |first=William |date=November 1983 |title=Low-cost computers |pages=150 |work=Popular Science |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EpSrYt9lFLMC&dq=Panasonic+JR-800&pg=PA150}}</ref> All four were sold under Matsushita's 'National' brand;<ref name='hpc_cat_82' /><ref name='hpc_cat_84' /><ref name='cats_300' /><ref name='metro_jr800' /> the JR-100 and JR-200U were also sold elsewhere as 'Panasonic' (another Matsushita brand).<ref name='1000bit_panjr100' /><ref name='1000bit_panjr100_ad' /><ref name='ebay_panjr200' />

The JR series found a strong foothold in Japanese schools, particularly the JR-200, which became a standard machine for teaching programming in BASIC.

==JR-100 {{anchor|jr-100}} == The '''National JR-100'''<ref name="マイコン1982年2月号">マイコン1982年2月号</ref> (sold in some markets as the '''Panasonic JR-100''')<ref name='1000bit_panjr100' /><ref name='1000bit_panjr100_ad' /> was released on November 21, 1981, with a price of 54,800 yen.<ref name="JR-100">{{Cite web|url=http://asamomiji.jp/contents/documents/retropc/jr100|title=JR-100|date=May 28, 2017|website=計算機室}}</ref> It was the cheapest domestically produced personal computer at the time of its release.

Like the Hitachi Basic Master and Sharp MZ-80, it was a low-performance, low-priced personal computer offering basic semi-graphic character based graphics, a monochrome display, and minimal sound ability. The CPU was an 8-bit Panasonic MN1800A NMOS microprocessor<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=2fae23a9ce160f11ce15274d241e5a77bcb2b1&type=O&term=27--KUX |title=PANASONIC INDL/ELEK {IC} 72 |publisher=Panasonic |pages=270}}</ref> (compatible with the Motorola MC6802, a slightly improved version of the Motorola MC6800) running at a slow 0.89&nbsp;MHz, and it came with 16&nbsp;KB of RAM (expandable to 32&nbsp;KB).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/Panasonic_JR-100U_Operating_Instructions |title=Operating Instructions - Personal Computer JR-100U |publisher=Panasonic}}</ref> Compared to the cheaper imported Sinclair ZX81 (38,700 yen), the larger RAM on the JR100 made it possible to create better programs.

The computer case is angular and cream-colored, measuring 296mm wide x 154mm deep x 45mm high, being extremely compact. The green keyboard was made of rubber due to its low price, and was mockingly called the "eraser keyboard". It had a shortcut key function, allowing users to enter commands in one go. There was no space bar at the bottom, and the right shift key was replaced with a space bar.

'''Specifications:''' *CPU: MN1800A (MC6802 compatible) *Clock speed: 890&nbsp;kHz *RAM: 16-32&nbsp;KB *ROM: 8&nbsp;KB *Graphics: Monochrome; {{Resx|32|24}} text characters; {{Resx|64|48}} semi-graphic characters with {{Resx|8|8}} pixel matrix *Sound: Internal speaker *Connections: Monitor, Expansion, Tape (Frequency-shift keying encoding with 1200&nbsp;Hz for space and 2400&nbsp;Hz for mark; 600&nbsp;baud) *OS: JR-BASIC&nbsp;1.0<ref name="JR-100"/>

==JR-200 {{anchor|jr-200}} == {{main|Panasonic JR-200}} The '''National JR-200'''<ref name='hpc_cat_84' /> (also sold as the '''Panasonic JR-200U''' variant in some countries)<ref name='ebay_panjr200' /> was released at the end of 1982 with a price of 79,800 yen. It was a higher-end model than the JR-100, but not compatible with this machine.

The JR-200<ref name="auto1" /><ref name=":1" /> is made of silver grey plastic, and has a black matte area around the chiclet keyboard area. It used the same MN1800A CPU as the previous model, but added a second processor, the 4-bit MN1544CJR,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Reunanen |first=Markku |title=Discovering the Panasonic JR-200U |url=http://www.kameli.net/marq/?page_id=1270 |website=.Markku Reunanen.}}</ref> which is used for I/O and contains 128&nbsp;bytes of RAM plus four kilobytes of ROM.

The computer received favorable reviews on its launch. Creative Computing wrote ''"The Panasonic JR-200 is one of the nicest new computers to make the scene in some time."''<ref name="arch_Crea">{{Cite news |last=Ahl |first=David |date=May 1983 |title=Panasonic JR-200 |volume=9 |pages=16 |work=Creative Computing Magazine |issue=5 |url=https://archive.org/details/creativecomputing-1983-05./page/n19/mode/2up}}</ref>

=== Specifications === *CPU: MN1800A + MN1544 *Clock speed: 890&nbsp;kHz *RAM: 36&nbsp;KB *ROM: 16&nbsp;KB *Graphics: 8 colors (black, blue, red, magenta, green, cyan, yellow, white); {{Resx|256|192}}; {{Resx|32|24}} text characters; {{Resx|64|48}} semi-graphic characters with {{Resx|8|8}} pixel matrix<ref name=":0" /> *Sound: 3 voices, 5 octaves, square wave. Generated by the MN1271 sound, I/O and timer chip.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=49f1a85cf9cac486c29073c0ad2058dce510c1&type=O&term=MN1271 |title=PANASONIC INDL/ELEK {IC} 72 |publisher=Panasonic |pages=524}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> *Connections: Composite and RF video, expansion, tape (600/2400&nbsp;baud), printer port, floppy drive, joystick *OS: JR-BASIC&nbsp;5.0

=== International Variants === Versions of the JR-200 were developed for the North American and European markets and announced in January 1983:<ref>{{cite web |title=PANASONIC JR-200U |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=553 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128210558/https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=553 |archive-date=2022-11-28 |accessdate=20 May 2018 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}}</ref>

* '''JR-200U:''' Designed for North American and European markets, with modified power supply and video output standards; * '''JR-200UP:''' Included a built-in printer interface to meet business and educational needs.

==JR-300 {{anchor|jr-300}} == The '''National JR-300''',<ref name='cats_300' /><ref name="auto"/> released in 1984 with a price of 159,000 yen, was completely redesigned in comparison with the earlier JR-100 and JR-200 models. The JR-300 was a hybrid 8/16-bit machine, having a Zilog Z80A CPU as well as a second MN1800A CPU to allow backwards compatibility with the JR-200.<ref name="auto" />

It was advertised as "PC & TV 300" and came standard with a genlock function. A dedicated display (TH15-M300) was available for this. The size and design are similar to the Matsushita MSX machines with separate keyboard.

The JR-300 was primarily delivered to schools as an educational computer, and only a very limited number of machines were released to the general public.

=== Specifications === *CPU: MN1800A + Z80A *Clock speed: 4&nbsp;MHz *RAM: 82&nbsp;KB *ROM: 40&nbsp;KB *Graphics: 8 colors; {{Resx|320|200}}, {{Resx|640|200}}, {{Resx|640|400}} *Sound: Yamaha 8910 (3 voices, 5 octaves) *Connections: RGB, Composite and RF video, sound out, expansion, tape (600/2400&nbsp;baud), printer port, floppy drive, joystick *OS: JR-BASIC&nbsp;5.0, Extended Basic

==JR-800 {{anchor|jr-800}} == A handheld model called the '''National JR-800'''<ref name='metro_jr800' /> was launched in 1983 with a price of 128,000 yen,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jibunde.com/pokecom/National/JR-800/index.html|title=JR-800(ポケコン・ポケットコンピュータ)のことなら「自分でドットコム」(DIY)|website=www.jibunde.com}}</ref> but it was not compatible with the previous JR computers.<ref name="auto2"/> It was based around a Hitachi HD63A01V CPU<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=National JR-800 Documentation |url=https://pockemul.com/index.php/2020/08/28/national-jr-800-documentation/ |website=PockEmul - A vintage Pocket Computers and Calculators emulator}}</ref> (MC6801 compatible) running at 4.9152&nbsp;MHz, with 16&nbsp;KB of RAM, and featured a {{Resx|192|64}} pixel LCD screen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The National JR-800 computer |url=http://pocket.free.fr/html/national/jr-800_e.html |website=The pocket computer museum}}</ref>

It was a B5 sized handheld computer, powered by four AA batteries or an AC adapter. A dedicated portable printer, the JR-P20, was also released.

=== Specifications === *CPU: HD63A01V *Clock speed: 4.9152&nbsp;MHz *RAM: 16&nbsp;KB *ROM: 16&nbsp;KB *Graphics: monochrome LCD, {{Resx|32|8}} characters; {{Resx|192|64}} pixels *Connections: tape, RS-232, printer, sound *OS: BASIC

==Character set== The table below shows the semigraphics character set available on the Matsushita JR series, as shown on the operations manual.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/Panasonic_JR-100U_Operating_Instructions/page/n9/mode/2up |title=Operating Instructions Personal Computer JR-100U |publisher=Panasonic |pages=8, 54}}</ref> Characters are rendered using modern equivalents, the exact hardware font it not simulated.

{| class="wikitable" |- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" ! ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 8 ! 9 ! E ! F |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 0 | | 0 | @ | P | | ┌ | ◯ | ┘ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 1 | ! | 1 | A | Q | ♠ | ▁ | ▗ | ▏ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 2 | “ | 2 | B | R | ♥ | ▂ | ▞ | ▎ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 3 | # | 3 | C | S | ♦ | ▃ | ▙ | ▖ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 4 | $ | 4 | D | T | ♣ | ▄ | ▛ | ▌ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 5 | % | 5 | E | U | ⬣ | ▅ | ▎ | ▊ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 6 | & | 6 | F | V | ← | ▆ | ▜ | ▟ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 7 | ' | 7 | G | W | ↓ | ▇ | ▚ | ▟ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 8 | ( | 8 | H | X | ↑ | ├ | ▐ | ▘ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | 9 | ) | 9 | I | Y | → | ┤ | ┼ | ▊ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | A | * | : | J | Z | 🛉 | │ | ▒ | ▝ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | B | + | ; | K | [ | ☺ | ─ | ┬ | ◟ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | C | , | < | L | ¥ | ▓ | ◣ | ┴ | ● |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | D | - | = | M | ] | ┐ | ◝ | ░ | ◞ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | E | . | > | N | ^ | █ | ╳ | ▀ | ◜ |- ! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#c0c0c0;" | F | / | ? | O | _ | ◢ | ╱ | └ | ╲ |}

==See also== *JR-BASIC *Panasonic JR-200 *Sharp MZ *PC-8000 series

==References== <references>

<ref name='hpc_cat_82'>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/HobbyPCCatalog/page/82/mode/2up|magazine=Hobby PC Catalog|page=82|title=National JR-100|quote=[Image shows 'National'-badged JR-100]}}</ref>

<ref name='hpc_cat_84'>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/HobbyPCCatalog/page/84/mode/2up|magazine=Hobby PC Catalog|pages=84,85|title=National JR-200|quote=[Images show 'National'-badged JR-200]}}</ref>

<ref name='cats_300'>{{cite magazine|magazine=National catalogues (1983-10, 1984-3)|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250902135731/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoBsJtDUUAAgHyN?format=jpg&name=4096x4096|archivedate=2 September 2025|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoBsJtDUUAAgHyN?format=jpg&name=4096x4096|title=National JR-300 (catalogues)}}</ref>

<ref name='metro_jr800'>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/technopolis-volume-11-june-1983/Technopolis%20-%20Volume%2011%20-%20June%201983/page/104/mode/2up|date=June 1983|magazine=Technopolis|quote=[Image showing National-badged JR-800|title=[JR-800-related article]}}</ref>

<ref name='1000bit_panjr100'>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250902170418/https://www.1000bit.it/lista/p/panasonic/jr100u.jpg|archivedate=2 September 2025|url=https://www.1000bit.it/lista/p/panasonic/jr100u.jpg|title=[Image of Panasonic-branded JR-100]}}</ref>

<ref name='1000bit_panjr100_ad'>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250902170417/https://www.1000bit.it/lista/p/panasonic/nzbits%26bytes_198306_jr100_ad.jpg|archivedate=2 September 2025|url=https://www.1000bit.it/lista/p/panasonic/nzbits%26bytes_198306_jr100_ad.jpg|title=Panasonic JR-100 advertisement|access-date=28 January 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name='ebay_panjr200'>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250902195341/https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/H4UAAOSwNbFlw~Ds/s-l1600.webp|archivedate=2 September 2025|url=https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/H4UAAOSwNbFlw~Ds/s-l1600.webp|title=[Image of Panasonic-branded JR-200U and box indicating name]}}</ref>

</references>

==External links== * [http://pocket.free.fr/html/national/jr-800_e.html The Pocket Computer Museum entry] on the National JR-800 handheld computer * [https://binarium.de/panasonic_matsushita_national_jr_100 BINARIUM museum entry] on the Panasonic JR-100 (German language)

{{Panasonic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matsushita Jr Series}} Category:Home computers Category:Panasonic computers Category:Character sets Category:Computer-related introductions in 1981