While we've had a few close shaves over the years, Tokyo's power grid has fortunately been spared a major, city-wide blackout. This year, the closure of 17 nuclear power generators for safety inspection led many to fret that there might not be sufficient power over the summer; fortunately demand has been less than anticipated due to unexpectedly cool weather.

But the fact is, per capita electric power consumption has grown in quantum leaps over the past several decades. Back in 1966, I occupied a humble 6.5-mat room with exactly three items that consumed electricity. The first was an overhead fluorescent "kasa" mounted in the center of the ceiling. It was turned on by a long cord.

I also had a reading lamp on my low table. The third appliance was my sole source of hot water, a small coffee percolator that I used to boil each morning. Half the water went in a cup for instant coffee; the other half in the sink for shaving of the non-electric variety. (Small wonder I gave up shaving and have not resumed since.) My little transistor radio did not count, since it used a 9-Volt battery. My alarm clock was of the windup variety. My hair dryer, its label indicated, was composed of 100 percent cotton.