Where Does “Konsento” Come From?

Despite sounding exactly like the English word “consent,” this wasei-eigo has absolutely nothing to do with permission or agreement. The word actually comes from “concentric plug” (コンセントリック・プラグ, konsentorikku puragu), a type of electrical connector from the early days of electricity in Japan. Over time, the long phrase was shortened to just コンセント — and the original meaning of “concentric” was completely lost.

This makes コンセント one of the most surprising wasei-eigo words, because the meaning gap is enormous. In English, “consent” is a serious word about permission and agreement. In Japanese, it’s just the thing in the wall where you plug in your phone charger.

The Classic Mix-Up

Imagine checking into a Japanese hotel and asking the front desk in English: “Where is the consent?” The staff would be bewildered — are you asking about a legal document? A permission form?

Meanwhile, in Japan, asking 「コンセントはどこですか？」 is a perfectly normal question that just means “Where can I plug in my device?”

This confusion works both ways. A Japanese traveler abroad might ask a hotel receptionist “Where is the consent?” expecting to be pointed toward an electrical outlet — only to receive very confused looks.

Japan’s Unique Outlets

Japan uses Type A outlets — two flat, parallel prongs — running on 100V electricity (one of the lowest voltages in the world). If you’re visiting from the US, your plugs will physically fit, but some high-powered devices might run slowly. Visitors from Europe, the UK, or Australia will definitely need an adapter.

One quirk: many Japanese outlets only have two slots (no ground pin), and it’s common to see power strips (タコ足配線, takоashi haisen — literally “octopus-leg wiring”) snaking across rooms to compensate for the limited number of wall outlets.

Fun Fact

If you search for “consent” in an English dictionary, you’ll find words like “permission,” “agreement,” and “approval.” If you search for コンセント in a Japanese dictionary, you’ll find a picture of a wall socket. The gap between these two meanings might just be the widest of any wasei-eigo word!