Why Don’t We Standardize Voltage and Plugs Worldwide?

This article has been translated from its original Japanese version using GPT-4. Should you find any errors, please leave a comment to notify me.

The call for globalization has been long-standing, yet it seems that certain elements such as passports and the very concept of nation-states are inhibiting this process.

Since arriving in the UK, I’ve encountered instances where certain apps frequently used by Brits are not available on the Japanese App Store. Currently, there are three apps I can’t download from the Japanese version.

Hence, I’m contemplating whether to create a UK Apple account. But the idea of carrying two smartphones is just bothersome. Sigh.

Then there’s Kindle. The range of books available on Amazon Japan and Amazon US differs, and since the accounts are separate, it’s a hassle to switch accounts and redownload books when you only have one iPad.

This is likely due to the different laws and tax systems in each country.

Being a Japanese national generally comes with fewer disadvantages, but nationality can sometimes restrict one’s actions. For example, there are countries where you can’t travel freely. As a Japanese person, I don’t usually need a visa for overseas travel, but there are those who must obtain a visa every time they wish to travel, due to their nationality. Sometimes, discrimination is based solely on nationality.

Then there’s the issue of voltage. Japan uses 100V, while the UK uses 220-240V. Consequently, Japanese electrical appliances can’t be used in the UK, and vice versa. It’s a mystery to me why we haven’t standardized voltage worldwide.

And then there’s the shape of plugs. Why haven’t we standardized these globally? The different shapes of plugs in various regions necessitate the use of conversion plugs or the localization of products for each sales region. It’s an unnecessary expenditure of energy.

My UK plug situation is like this: British plugs are bulky, making chargers and such inconvenient to carry around.

A little while ago, I tweeted something that, upon reflection, highlights an even more perplexing situation: the fact that companies like Apple have to sell such items in the first place.

Then there’s the matter of units of measurement.

In the UK, the metric system is generally used. However, for some reason, height is measured in the imperial system. So, I can’t simply say I’m 163 cm; I have to say I’m 5 feet 4 inches.

Distance is also indicated in miles. Google Maps will display distances in miles when showing maps of the UK, but it switches to meters for maps of Japan.

The sizes for clothing and shoes are also confusing, with UK sizes, Euro sizes, US sizes—all different. Why can’t we standardize these?

I believe that the unification of measurement systems is essential for any organization to come together.

We keep hearing the term “globalization” over and over, but it seems to me that true globalization is still a long way off.

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