This Privacy Policy applies to all handling of personal information by the Company. It does not apply to personal information handled for the purpose of news reporting or writing, but the Company also handles the latter kind of personal information in an appropriate manner consistent with the intent of laws and regulations relating to the protection of personal information.

1. Acquisition of Personal Information

1) The Company acquires personal information through appropriate and fair means.

2) The corporate website operated by the Company, “https://japantimes-agency.com/” and the platform service “The Japan Times School Guide” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Websites and Services”) provide information about the Company and its services. Merely browsing the Websites and Services does not result in the Company acquiring personal information, except for information collected through cookies, access logs and similar technologies. (For details regarding the use of cookies and consent management on The Japan Times School Guide, please refer to Section 6, “Cookies and Other Technologies.”)

The Websites and Services may contain links to external websites. Except for external services used by the Company for the purpose of collecting or otherwise handling personal information, the Company does not share personal information with such linked websites. The Company assumes no responsibility for the collection of personal information by linked websites. Please review the privacy policies or other information regarding the handling of personal information provided by such websites.

2. Use of Personal Information

1) Personal information that is collected will be utilized appropriately for the following purposes.
Customers’ personal information
• To offer and provide information about products and services handled by the company, campaigns, email magazines, seminars, events and the like
• To analyze information relating to customers’ browsing and purchase history in order to deliver advertising for new products and services that matches customers’ interests
• To send purchased goods, thank-you gifts for survey participation, and the like
• To respond to customers’ inquiries
• To improve services and develop new services
• To communicate regarding maintenance or other important information, as required
• To deal with customers who violate the terms of service
• To enable customers themselves to modify or delete the services they use or to confirm their usage status
• To confirm invoices or payments relating to paid services
• To fulfill purposes ancillary to the above purposes

Personal information of business clients (officers and employees in the case of corporations)
• To communicate as required for business purposes
• To manage client information

Personal information of job applicants
• For job screening and communication during recruiting activities

2) The Company will not utilize personal information without the prior consent of the relevant person for any purpose beyond that necessary to fulfill the original purpose of using the information. In the event that the Company wishes to utilize personal information for any purpose beyond that necessary to fulfill the original purpose of using the information, the Company will state explicitly the purpose of using the information and obtain the prior consent of the relevant person.

3. Security Management

The Company will take necessary and appropriate security measures to prevent illicit access to, loss, tampering or leakage of personal information. The Company will also supervise, as necessary and in an appropriate manner, employees, outsourcing contractors and others who handle the personal information.

4. Provision to Third Parties

1) Except in the following circumstances, the Company will not provide personal information to third parties, either in Japan or overseas, without the prior consent of the relevant person.

• When the provision of personal information is based on laws and regulations (including cases based on laws and regulations relating to the protection of private information)
• When there is a need to protect the life, body or property of a person and it would be difficult to obtain the consent of the relevant person
• When there is a particular need to improve public health or promote the healthy development of children and it would be difficult to obtain the relevant person’s consent
• When it is necessary to cooperate with a government organization, local government body or individual entrusted by such entities in performing duties prescribed by laws and regulations and there is a risk that obtaining the consent of the relevant person would interfere with the performance of said duties
• When a subscriber’s personal information is provided in the course of a business succession due to a merger or other reason

The Company may entrust all or part of the handling of the personal information to a subcontractor within the scope necessary to fulfill the purpose of using the information as listed under 2 above. In such cases, the Company will supervise the subcontractor, as necessary and in an appropriate manner, to ensure the secure management of the personal information.

5. Shared Use

The Company will share use of the personal information in the manner described below.

1) Personal information submitted when making an inquiry to the Company

Personal information of job applicants provided during recruiting activities

6. Cookies and Other Techniques

The Website may use cookies and other techniques (such as web beacons) to collect information on how customers are using the Website.

A cookie is information stored within the website browser (hereinafter “browser”) that the customer uses to access a website.
A customer can use browser settings to display the fact that cookies are being used when the customer visits a website, and to disable the use of cookies. Customers should take note that disabling cookies may limit customers’ use of the Website, for example, by preventing their use of services that require authentication.

The Company uses cookies for the following purposes.

• To maintain an authenticated user’s session
• To offer services tailored to each individual customer
• To display appropriate advertising on other companies’ websites based on how the Company’s Website is used
• To learn how many people use the Company’s Website and how they use it
• To collect analytical information to improve the Company’s services
• To maintain security by requesting customers to reauthenticate if a certain amount of time has elapsed since they first logged in

Based on arrangements with the sites of other companies subcontracted to distribute the Company’s advertising, the Company may store and reference its cookies on other companies’ websites.

A web beacon is a technique used to identify specific information on a user’s browser, such as the user’s cookie information, the date and time a page was displayed, and information about the page on which the web beacon was installed. Web beacons can be disabled by rejecting the relevant cookies.

Additional Provisions for Customers Accessing the Service from the EEA, United Kingdom and Switzerland
With respect to customers accessing the platform service “The Japan Times School Guide” operated by the Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Service”) from the EEA, United Kingdom or Switzerland, the Company obtains and manages consent regarding the use of cookies and other technologies for analytics and external media as follows.

1. Use of Google Analytics
The Service uses Google Analytics, provided by Google, to understand and analyze usage of the Service and to improve the Service.
If a customer consents to “Analytics,” information such as pages viewed, usage data, device and browser information, and approximate location information will be collected using cookies and other technologies and transmitted to Google.
For customers accessing the Service from the EEA, United Kingdom or Switzerland, Google Analytics will not be used to measure activity or transmit data to Google until the customer’s consent has been obtained.

2. Use of External Media (YouTube)
Some pages of the Service use videos provided through YouTube, a service of Google. If a customer consents to “External Media,” YouTube may be loaded when the page is displayed and videos may play automatically. In such cases, communication with Google will occur, and information such as device and browser information and video usage data may be transmitted to Google.

3. Selection, Modification and Withdrawal of Consent
Customers may individually consent to or reject “Analytics” and “External Media” through the consent banner displayed on the Service.
Customers may change or withdraw their consent at any time through “Privacy Settings” on the Service.

4. Data Retention and Deletion
Data collected through Google Analytics will be retained for the retention period set by the Company or for as long as necessary to achieve the purposes for which the data is used, and will thereafter be deleted in accordance with Google’s specifications. For details regarding the handling of data by Google Analytics, please refer to the Google Analytics Terms of Service and Google’s Privacy Policy.
Information collected by Google through YouTube will be handled in accordance with Google’s Privacy Policy. Cookies and similar data stored on a customer’s device may also be deleted through the customer’s browser settings.

7. Access Log

The Website automatically collects browsing statistics for the purpose of managing the Website and analyzing usage. This enables the Company to obtain statistical data regarding IP addresses, pages visited, the amount of time spent on each page, URLs entered immediately prior to accessing each website, page transition trends, and operating systems. Although the use of this information does not involve linking to personal information, IP addresses and other information may be used to help detect so-called blog spammers and the like.

Google Analytics
To improve quality, the Website uses Google’s Google Analytics. Google Analytics employs cookies to collect, record and analyze information regarding visits to the Company’s website. Data collection and processing are handled by Google Analytics. See the following sites for Google Analytics Terms of Service and Google’s Privacy Policy.
Google Analytics Terms of Service
Google’s Privacy Policy

8. Requests for Disclosure of Personal Information

When the Company receives a request for notification of the purpose of use, or for disclosure, correction, supplementation, deletion, cessation of use, removal or cessation of provision to a third party of personal data that could be used to identify the person making the request, the Company shall respond promptly, after confirming the identity of the person making the request, in accordance with laws and regulations regarding protection of personal information and the Company’s prescribed procedures. See 9 (Contact for Inquiries and Complaints regarding Personal Information) below for specific information on how to submit requests.

9. Contact for Inquiries and Complaints regarding Personal Information

The Company has established a desk for receiving inquiries and complaints regarding the handling of personal information and will respond to such requests promptly and in an appropriate manner. The procedure for submitting inquiries is described below. Please note that the Company cannot respond to requests made by telephone or by persons who visit the Company’s premises.

Inquiries submitted via mail
Address: jta-media-solutions@japantimes.co.jp

Personal Information Inquiries Desk
The Japan Times Agency, Ltd.
Ichibancho-Daini-TG Bldg. 2F,
2-2, Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0082

10. Procedure for Requesting Disclosure, etc.

1) When requesting notification of the purpose of using retained personal data or requesting disclosure, correction, supplementation, deletion, cessation of use, removal, cessation of provision to a third party or disclosure of records of provision to a third party of retained personal data, please download the request form as shown below, complete the necessary items, enclose the identity verification documents indicated below, and mail your request to the Personal Information Inquiries Desk.

Request for Correction, Supplementation, Deletion, etc., of Retained Personal Data (PDF)
Request for Notification of Purpose of Use of Retained Personal Data and Disclosure, etc. (PDF)

• One identification document from the following list (must display your name, current address and date of birth):

Copy of driver’s license, passport, residence card, My Number card (front side) or other public document that includes a photo of your face

Or
Two identification documents from the following list:

Copies of health insurance card, pension handbook or other public document that does not include a face photo, copy of certificate of residence (juminhyo), seal registration certificate (not a copy)

• If requesting through a representative, in addition to the aforementioned request form and identification documents for yourself, the representative must also submit one or more identification documents for him/herself, as specified above, together with a written power of attorney.

2) Fee and method of payment
When requesting “notification of purpose of using retained personal data,” “disclosure of retained personal data” or “disclosure of records of provision to a third party,” the fee is ¥500 for each application. Please enclose a ¥500 postal money order with your request. If you are submitting multiple requests in the same envelope, please include a sufficient amount to cover the combined fee for all requests.

For requests relating to correction, supplementation, deletion, cessation of use or removal of retained personal data and requests for cessation of provision to a third party, there is no fee.

3) Method of replying
• Requests for disclosure of retained personal data or disclosure of records of provision to a third party
We will reply using the method selected by the applicant on the request form. If no method has been selected, we will reply using a method of our choosing.

Requests received by mail:
The reply will be sent by simplified registered mail to the address shown on the identification document(s) submitted by the applicant. Please affix sufficient postage to a self-addressed stamped envelope and enclose it with the request form.

Requests submitted by electronic means:
The reply will be sent in the form of a PDF file attached to an email transmitted to the address shown on the request form.

• Requests for other types of information
We will reply using a method of our choosing.

(4) Purpose of using acquired personal information
Personal information acquired through inquiries, complaints or requests for disclosure made to the Company will only be used to confirm the identity of the individual concerned or that person’s representative and only to the extent necessary to respond to the request. Documents sent to the Company will not be returned. Once the process of replying has been completed, the Company will take appropriate steps to manage and destroy the information.

(5) Reasons for not disclosing
The Company will be unable to respond to requests if any of the following apply: the request does not meet the requirements specified in the aforementioned procedure for requesting disclosure, etc.; the Company deems the request to be unreasonable based on the findings of an investigation; the Company believes it has reasonable grounds for not acceding to the request based on laws and regulations. The Company will communicate without delay to the person making the request its decision on whether it intends to meet the request for disclosure, etc. The Company will not refund the aforementioned fee in the event of a decision not to make the requested disclosure or not to provide notification of the purpose of using personal information.
If the subject of the request refers to matters that are handled by the Company for the purpose of news reporting or writing, the Company will be unable to respond to the request even if it involves personal data.

11. Revision of Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be revised in order to strengthen protection of personal information or because of changes in the law. Any revision of the Privacy Policy will be posted and announced on the Website. Please review the Privacy Policy periodically.

12. Precedence of Japanese Version of Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy was originally prepared in the Japanese language. In the event of any discrepancy between the English-language version and the Japanese-language version regarding the interpretation of the Privacy Policy, the Japanese-language version shall take precedence.

13. Name of Business Operator, Address, Name of Official Representative

The Japan Times Agency, Ltd.
Ichibancho-Daini-TG Bldg. 2F,
2-2, Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
President: Minako Suematsu

Revised Sep 18, 2026