Addendum, 15-Dec-1998: one correspondent found a web page for the company
from which I purchased my stepdown transformers, San Mateo Electronics:

      Concerning the Stepdown Converters, I found a company on the
      web that is selling the exact model that you noted in your
      'blurb'. They can be found here:

      http://www.smelectronics.com/

      And a direct link to their list of converters:

      http://www.smelectronics.com/japantrans.htm

      Asking price, less shipping, is $69.95.

      If anyone asks you where to get them, and they'd rather not
      buy them from HK maybe they'd be interested in knowing about
      this 'local' company.