Introduction
This Privacy Policy (this “Policy”) explains how General Incorporated Association Shikaku (“we”) recognizes the importance of personal information and handles it appropriately.
This Policy applies to the handling of personal information in connection with the Signs I/O website, apps and related services that we operate. It does not apply to other services we provide.
For Signs I/O online conversations, the “Addendum on the Handling of Personal Information in Online Conversations” provides specific information about how information is handled in that service. The Addendum applies only to information relating to online conversations and does not apply uniformly to other services.
Definition of Personal Information
The terms used in this Policy are interpreted in accordance with the definitions in Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information.
In this Policy, “personal information” means information about a living individual that can identify a specific individual by name, date of birth or other descriptions contained in that information (including matters described or recorded in documents, drawings, data or other materials, or expressed through sound, movement or other means, but excluding individual identification codes; the same applies below), including information that can be readily cross-referenced with other information to identify a specific individual, or information containing an individual identification code.
We acquire personal information appropriately and to the extent necessary for our services. If we need to acquire special care-required personal information, we obtain the individual’s prior consent, except where permitted by laws and regulations. We do not request individual identification codes or special care-required personal information that is unnecessary for the services.
Purposes of Use
We use users’ personal information to the extent necessary for the following purposes:
- providing and operating services, including membership registration, applications, contracts, payments and settlements;
- sending users notices and other information;
- verifying identity and authenticating users;
- responding to inquiries;
- investigating, compiling statistics on and analyzing usage trends; and
- maintaining and improving systems and responding to malfunctions, including preventing unauthorized use and ensuring security.
Where an addendum or similar document limits the purposes of use for service-specific information, we follow those limitations. We send promotional emails with the necessary notices and on the basis of consent required by laws and regulations, and allow users to unsubscribe. Communications necessary for contracts, payments and security are handled separately from unsubscribing from promotional emails.
Provision to Third Parties
This website is operated and owned by us.
Except where permitted by laws and regulations, we do not provide personal data to third parties without the individual’s prior consent. If we use personal information beyond the scope necessary to achieve the purposes we have published or notified, we obtain any necessary consent in accordance with laws and regulations.
Where we entrust the handling of personal data to a contractor to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of use, the contractor is not treated as a third party under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information for that handling. We select contractors on the condition that they ensure an adequate level of personal information protection, secure confidentiality and security through contracts or other arrangements, and exercise necessary and appropriate supervision.
Where the provision of information to a business operator in a foreign country is involved, including when the handling of information is entrusted to a contractor, we check the requirements for provision to foreign countries under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and take the necessary steps, such as providing information, obtaining consent or ensuring protective measures.
Disclosure of Information
We provide information to third parties in accordance with the preceding section and laws and regulations. For example, we may disclose information to the extent necessary in the following cases:
- where the individual has consented to the provision of information;
- where we respond to a request based on laws and regulations from a court, public prosecutors’ office, police, tax office or similar authority;
- where disclosure is necessary to protect a person’s life, body or property and it is difficult to obtain the individual’s consent;
- where we provide information to an appropriately supervised contractor to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of use; or
- where otherwise permitted by the Act on the Protection of Personal Information or other laws and regulations.
Correction and Deletion of Information
When an individual or their duly authorized representative requests notification of purposes of use, disclosure of retained personal data or records of provision to third parties, correction, addition, deletion, cessation of use, cessation of provision to third parties or similar measures, we verify their identity or authority and respond in accordance with laws and regulations. Our contact point below provides information about how to make a request. If we cannot comply under laws and regulations, we explain this and the reasons.
We retain information according to the purposes of use, legal retention obligations and the need to handle contracts, disputes and similar matters. We endeavor to erase personal data without delay when it is no longer necessary to use it. Deleting an account is distinct from retaining records that are necessary under laws and regulations or other applicable requirements.
Security
We take necessary and appropriate security measures, including restricting access to users’ information, to prevent leakage, loss or damage. Information about our security measures is available through the contact point below. If a leakage or similar incident occurs, we make any required reports and notifications to affected individuals in accordance with laws and regulations.
Information Collected Using IP Addresses, Cookies and Similar Technologies
We may collect information relating to users’ privacy (“Privacy Information”) from access logs, IP addresses, cookies and similar sources. Such information may identify an individual when readily cross-referenced with membership information or other information. We handle it in accordance with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information as applicable to the actual handling involved.
We use the Privacy Information we collect to the extent necessary for the purposes of use described above, including providing services, ensuring security and understanding usage.
Use of Analytics Tools
We use Google Analytics to understand access to and use of Signs I/O.
Users can restrict cookies through their browser settings and can restrict the collection and use of information by an analytics service through the settings or opt-out methods it provides. The available methods and the extent of the restrictions vary by service. Restricting cookies alone does not necessarily stop all collection of access logs or other information.
Changing these settings may make some functions, such as login, or access to some information unavailable.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We review this Policy in light of our actual information handling practices and laws and regulations, and post changes on this website. For important changes, we provide advance notice of the changes and when they will take effect. If notification, provision of information or consent is required in connection with changes to purposes of use, provision to third parties or similar matters, we follow the procedures required by laws and regulations. Posting or viewing this Policy, or updating its version, does not by itself constitute any required consent.
Privacy Inquiries
If you have comments or questions about privacy, please contact us using the details below.
- Personal information handling business operator: General Incorporated Association Shikaku
- Representative: Kohei Ito
- Address: Niu Building 2F, 2-1-17 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
- Contact: Inquiry form / info@signs.io
Latest revision: October 1, 2026
Initial establishment: June 25, 2019