[JBaymore]

Remember that US electrical household power is typically somewhere between 110 VAC and 120 VAC at 60Hz. Japanese power is typically at 100 VAC (and either 60 Hz or 50 Hz depending on where in Japan you are).

So using a Japanese appliance on US power has it slightly (about 10% to 15%) over-voltaged. This can affect the life of some components like heating elements and the recitfiers in power supply filters which change line voltage to lower and usually DC voltages.

I have a kotatsu heater in my tatami room that is from Japan, and it runs just a tad "hot". I know that it likely will burn out faster than if used in Japan. I look at t as just "the way things are".

best,

.................john