Last updated: April 30, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how AI From Japan (aifromjapan.com, hereafter “the Site,” “we,” “us”) collects, uses, and protects information from visitors. By using the Site, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
1. Who We Are
AI From Japan is an independent blog operated by Ryuyan Kimura (“the Operator”), based in the Kansai region of Japan. We publish original reviews of AI tools, VPNs, password managers, and other digital products relevant to people living in or interested in Japan.
The Site is a single-author content blog. We are not affiliated with any of the brands, products, or services we review.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Automatically Collected Information
When you visit the Site, our hosting provider and analytics tools automatically receive standard log data, including:
- IP address (anonymized for analytics purposes)
- Browser type and version
- Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
- Operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Approximate geographic location (country / region only)
- Referring URL (which site you came from)
This information is processed via Google Analytics 4 with IP anonymization enabled. We do not collect personally identifiable information through analytics.
2.2 Information You Provide
If you contact us via email or comment on a post, we collect the information you choose to share — typically your name, email address, and the content of your message. We use this information solely to respond to your inquiry.
3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
The Site uses the following types of cookies:
- Essential cookies — required for basic site functionality (e.g., remembering whether you’ve dismissed a notification banner).
- Analytics cookies — Google Analytics cookies (_ga, _gid, _gat) for measuring traffic and audience demographics.
- Affiliate-tracking cookies — when you click an affiliate link to a third-party service (e.g., NordVPN, Amazon Japan, italki, Surfshark), that service may set its own cookie on your browser to track whether you complete a purchase. These cookies are governed by the third party’s privacy policy, not ours.
You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. Some site features may not work correctly with cookies disabled.
4. Affiliate Programs
The Site participates in affiliate programs operated by third-party companies, including but not limited to: NordVPN, NordPass, Surfshark, italki, Amazon Associates (Japan), Commission Junction (CJ), Impact, and various direct partnerships. When you click an affiliate link and make a qualifying purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
For full details on our affiliate relationships, see our Affiliate Disclosure page.
5. How We Use Your Information
We use the information described above only to:
- Operate, maintain, and improve the Site
- Understand which content is most useful to readers
- Respond to direct inquiries from readers
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not:
- Sell or rent personal information to anyone
- Share your email address with third parties for marketing purposes
- Use your information to contact you with promotional content unless you’ve explicitly opted in
6. Your Rights
6.1 GDPR (EU/UK Visitors)
If you are visiting from the European Union or United Kingdom, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
- Right of access — request a copy of any personal data we hold about you
- Right to rectification — request correction of inaccurate data
- Right to erasure — request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”)
- Right to restrict processing — request that we limit how we use your data
- Right to data portability — receive your data in a portable format
- Right to object — object to specific processing activities
6.2 CCPA (California Visitors)
California residents have the right under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to know what personal information we collect, request deletion, and opt out of any “sale” of personal information. We do not sell personal information.
6.3 Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any privacy right, please contact us via the Contact page. We respond to all valid privacy requests within 30 days.
7. Data Retention
We retain analytics data in aggregated form for up to 26 months, after which it is deleted automatically by Google Analytics. We retain email correspondence for as long as necessary to respond and for our records, typically up to 2 years.
8. Security
The Site is served over HTTPS. We follow standard security practices for our hosting and CMS. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Third-Party Links
The Site contains links to third-party websites (including affiliate links). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of every site you visit.
10. Children’s Privacy
The Site is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 16. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us so we can delete it.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of the page reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be announced on the homepage for at least 30 days.
12. Contact
For privacy questions or to exercise any of the rights listed above, please use our Contact page.