Tetsudou Journal has a news item about JR East's refurbed E653s, renumber as 1100 subseries, to be used on the Shirayuki service that will run between Niigata and Arai on the Shin'etsu Main Line. It will begin in March 2015 with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. There will be four 4-car formations. Looks good.
Tetsudou Journal and Wikipedia links, and YT video (uploaded by Rail Channel, formerly tobu2181), below.
http://railf.jp/news/2014/10/28/173000.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E653_series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirayuki_%28train%29