Shodo Spice Privacy Policy

At Shodo Spice, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data when you interact with our online platform, enroll in our classes, or engage with our services, including traditional Japanese cooking master classes, ramen and sushi workshops, culinary cultural immersion programs, and calligraphy-infused menu design.

By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services to you.

1.1. Personal Data You Provide Directly

• Registration and Enrollment Information: When you register for an account, subscribe to our newsletter, or enroll in a workshop or program, we collect personal details such as your name, email address, postal address, and contact number.
• Payment Information: For paid services, we collect payment details, including credit card numbers or other financial account information. This information is processed securely by our trusted third-party payment processors. We do not store full payment card details on our servers.
• Communication Data: When you communicate with us via email, contact forms, or other channels, we collect the content of your communications, along with your contact information.
• Dietary and Health Information: For culinary classes and immersion programs, we may ask for information regarding dietary restrictions, allergies, or other health considerations pertinent to your participation to ensure your safety and enjoyment. This sensitive personal data is treated with utmost care and used solely for its intended purpose.

1.2. Automatically Collected Information

• Usage Data: We automatically collect information about how you access and use our online platform. This may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, time spent on those pages, and other diagnostic data.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our service and hold certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our service.

2. How We Use Your Information

Shodo Spice uses the collected data for various purposes:

• To provide and maintain our services, including processing your class registrations and managing your participation in our programs.
• To process transactions and send you related information, including purchase confirmations and invoices.
• To communicate with you about your account, services, and promotional offers.
• To provide customer support and respond to your inquiries.
• To personalize your experience on our online platform by presenting content tailored to your interests.
• To monitor the usage of our services and identify potential improvements.
• To detect, prevent, and address technical issues or fraudulent activities.
• To conduct research and analysis to improve our offerings in culinary arts and education.
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms and conditions.

3. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data Under GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA), Shodo Spice’s legal basis for collecting and using the personal information described in this Privacy Policy depends on the Personal Data we collect and the specific context in which we collect it.

• We need to perform a contract with you (e.g., when you enroll in a class).
• You have given us explicit permission to do so.
• The processing is in our legitimate interests and not overridden by your rights.
• To comply with the law.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your personal information in certain situations:

• Service Providers: We may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our services, provide services on our behalf (e.g., payment processing, website hosting, analytics), or assist us in analyzing how our services are used. These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.
• Business Transfers: If Shodo Spice is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.
• Legal Requirements: Shodo Spice may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
  • Comply with a legal obligation.
  • Protect and defend the rights or property of Shodo Spice.
  • Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with our services.
  • Protect the personal safety of users of our services or the public.
  • Protect against legal liability.
• With Your Consent: We may disclose your personal information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

5. Security of Data

The security of your data is paramount to us. We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information when you place an order or enter, submit, or access your personal information. These measures include encryption, firewalls, and secure server hosting. However, please remember that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

6. Data Retention

Shodo Spice will retain your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location, especially if you are in the EEA, you have certain data protection rights:

• The right to access: You have the right to request copies of your personal data.
• The right to rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete.
• The right to erasure: You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions.
• The right to restrict processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
• The right to object to processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
• The right to data portability: You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
• The right to withdraw consent: You also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time where Shodo Spice relied on your consent to process your personal information.

If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided in this Privacy Policy.

8. Links to Other Sites

Our service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for anyone under the age of 18 (referred to as "Children"). We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Children have provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the "last updated" date at the top of this Privacy Policy. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Company: Shodo Spice
• Address: 8-15-20 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo, 107-0052, Japan