Member rules.

March 1, 2007

 

Article 1 (Coverage)

These terms and conditions cover all interactions between the Wa-shoi! secretariat of HIS Experience Japan's media division (herein referred to as the secretariat) and the users of http://wa-shoi.com/, a community site about Japan that the secretariat operates (these terms extend to any user who has registered on the site).

 

Article 2 (Objective)

1) Wa-shoi! is a portal site that offers information on Japan. One of the site's objectives is to educate people around the world about Japan.
2) Wa-shoi! also aims to connect people and information by having the community share knowledge and create a trusting relationship.

 

Article 3 (Keeping private information private)

The address, phone number, email address or other personal information that could lead to someone directly contacting registered members of Wa-shoi! will not be made public.

 

Article 4 (Agreeing to these terms and conditions)

Users must agree to follow the rules laid out in these terms and conditions before becoming a member and using the site. Registered users agree to abide by the rules of these terms and conditions.

 

Article 5 (Revisions to terms and conditions)

The terms and conditions can be revised at any time by the secretariat. Users will be notified of revisions, and once a notification is made, any member using the Wa-shoi! site will be deemed as agreeing to the revisions.

 

Article 6 (Definition of registered users)

Registered users are those who have agreed to follow the terms and conditions and have applied for membership in the way designated by the secretariat.

 

Article 7 (Cancellation of registered user status)

The secretariat can cancel a user's registration at any time for the following infractions:

1. False information used during the application process
2. Password used in a dishonest or illegal way.
   
3. Information on the Wa-shoi! site used in a dishonest or illegal way.
   
4. Not following the terms and conditions
5. Any other activity deemed inappropriate by the secretariat
   

 

Article 8 (Transferring registered user privileges)

Transferring of registered user privileges to another person is prohibited in all cases.

 

Article 9 (Keeping personal information up to date)

Registered users are expected to keep their personal information up to date and correct, changing information as needed in a prompt manner.

 

Article 10 (Managing your password)

Registered users must select a password when registering on the site. A registered user may not allow someone else to use his or her password. Registered users are expected to update and manage their password in a responsible fashion. The secretariat bears absolutely no responsibility if a third party illegally uses a registered user's password and causes that person harm. Also, in the event that the secretariat or a third party is negatively affected because of this sort of event, the registered user will bear full responsibility.

 

Article 11 (Connecting to the site)

Registered users must access the Wa-shoi! site at their own cost. The secretariat bears absolutely no responsibility for any troubles users have accessing the site.

 

Article 12 (Responsibility for contents and services)

The secretariat does not guarantee that the information on the Wa-shoi! site is correct or complete. The secretariat bears absolutely no responsibility for any harm done to a registered user or third party based on information on the site.

 

Article 13 (Unauthorized use of information is prohibited)

Unauthorized use of the information and images on the Wa-shoi! site is prohibited. The information on the Wa-shoi! site may not be edited, reproduced or transmitted in any form. However, the secretariat and Wa-shoi! reserve the right to transfer any registered users' published material to another service in the Wa-shoi! system without prior notification and at the convenience of the secretariat and related parties.

 

Article 14 (Copyrights)

All copyrights related to the layout, design, structure and other elements of Wa-shoi! revert back to HIS Experience Japan KK. Registered users retain the copyrights to the works they publish on the site. But the secretariat and HIS Experience Japan KK retain the right to preserve any keywords, comments, images, URL information (herein referred to as published information) and use them in a secondary media for Wa-shoi! promotions, advertisements, etc. In this case, registered users are not entitled to any monetary remuneration from the secretariat or HIS Experience Japan KK for use of this published information.

 

Article 15 (Handling a registered user's information)

The secretariat operates under the principle that it will only pass along to a third party information pertaining to a registered user after obtaining the user's permission. However, this principle does not include inquiries from legal public entities or situations when the secretariat is legally responsible for handing over information, nor does it include requests from consumer centers and other such public organizations. Also, as explained below, there are times when it is necessary to pass along registered information to a third party without the user's agreement and without receiving any payment. In these cases, we will limit that information to that which does not specifically identify the user.

1. When using information for statistical analysis, marketing or advertising to improve Wa-shoi!'s operations.
2. When sending mail with Wa-shoi! related information
3. When using secondary data developed in 1) to explain
   Wa-shoi! and Wa-shoi! Services.
4. When a seat is reserved on the Wa-shoi! Bus (confirming available seats, confirming the user's identity upon boarding the bus)

The secretariat reserves the right to use information pertaining to registered users in the above circumstances after a user has cancelled his or her registration. The secretariat will take proper precautions to avoid leakage of this information, but should the information be obtained by illegal access, the secretariat will bear no responsibility.

 

Article 16 (Prohibited activities)

Registered users are prohibited from engaging in or contributing to the below activities when using Wa-shoi! Web.

1. Actions that run counter to public order and customs (anti-social activities or propaganda related to those activities)
2. Criminal activity or promoting such activity (including spreading computer viruses, distributing junk mail, spam or chain letters, and promoting pyramid schemes)
   
3. Activities that violate the intellectual property rights of another registered user or third party (including but not limited to copyrights, design rights, patents, utility model rights, trademarks and knowhow)
   
4. Activities that damage the property or harm the reputation, honor or privacy of another registered user or third party
   
5. Activities against Japan or the law
   
6. Activities that disadvantage other registered users or third parties
   
7. Activities that slander other registered users or third parties
   
8. Activities that are only meant to promote one's own or a third party's business (void when secretariat's approval is granted)
   
9. Activities deemed harmful to minors (including sexual, religious, political and other social content)
   
10. Activities that obstruct the business of Wa-shoi! or damage the reputation of the secretariat
    
11. Activities that counter these terms and conditions
    
12. Any other activities that the secretariat deems unacceptable

When someone engages in one of the above activities, the secretariat reserves the right to expel that person from the site without waiting for the approval of a third party. The registered user agrees that in such a situation, the secretariat bears no legal responsibility whatsoever.

Article 17 (Banning specific users from the site)

When the secretariat decides that there is a danger of harm being done to it or a third party, it can take action to disable a specific user's password and discontinue service to that user.

 

Article 18 (Exemptions)

The secretariat operates the Wa-shoi! business under the following exemptions.

1. The accuracy and validity of information on the Wa-shoi! site and the security of the site.
   While the secretariat agrees through these terms and conditions to allow registered users access to the Wa-shoi! site, it does not guarantee the validity or accuracy of the content on the site, nor does it always guarantee access to the site or the security of the site.
2. Members are responsible for their use of Wa-shoi!
   Users of Wa-shoi! are wholly responsible for the material they publish on the site, including preserving the material, reproducing it and other legal rights of usage. The registered user will be responsible for all legal issues pertaining to his or her published information, including but not limited to copyright, confidentiality, defamation, quality maintenance and any issues related to export.
3. Secretariat's responsibility when recommending information on Wa-shoi!
   The material published on Wa-shoi! is used to create special features and mail magazines, but the material published by registered users, including the URLs, is not confirmed by the secretariat. The secretariat does not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, validity, morality or suitability of the information and data taken from the site and used in its weekly publication, feature articles and mail magazines, nor does it guarantee that all material is permitted by copyright.
   
4. Responsibility for interrupted service
   The secretariat reserves the right to interrupt service without notifying its registered users ahead of time for the reasons listed below. The secretariat does not bear any responsibility for harm caused by interruptions in its service.
   
   1. To maintain, check and repair the system
   2. In the case that service fails due to fires or power failures
   3. In the case of extreme or extraordinary natural phenomena
   4. In the case of any other operational or technological obstacle that makes it necessary to interrupt service on Wa-shoi!
5. The secretariat basically does not participate in the communication or activities of its users. Even in the case of a dispute arising between users, the secretariat will not be responsible for resolving the dispute, but will instead encourage the users to work it out themselves.
6. The secretariat bears absolutely no responsibility for damage or harm resulting from the addition, alteration, interruption or cancellation of its service.
7. The secretariat is not responsible for watching or preserving video and other materials contributed by users.
   
8. The secretariat does not bear responsibility for the legality, morality, reliability or accuracy of the videos and other material contribute by users. The secretariat also is not responsible for making sure that contribution of videos and other material by a registered user conforms with the internal rules of the corporations or organizations involved.
   
9. The secretariat reserves the right to inspect, preserve or show to a third party videos and other material for the reasons below. Any harm or damage resulting from these actions is not the responsibility of the secretariat.
   
   1. If the secretariat has requested permission from the user to inspect a video or other material and either of the following two criteria are met:
      (a) The user agrees to the inspection.
      (b) The user has not denied the secretariat's request and two days have passed.
   2. When it is necessary to delete the material because it is seen as causing some sort of technical complications on the site
   3. When an official request for said material is made by the police, the courts or some other public organization
   4. The content of the video may be inspected when it does not follow the terms and conditions laid out here or the terms and conditions on Wa-shoi!, or when the secretariat receives a report suggesting that it does not.
   5. In an emergency that calls for quick action because it involves a person's life, physical well-being or property
   6. In other circumstances that affect the business of this site
      
10. When the terms and conditions or Wa-shoi! terms and conditions governing videos have been violated, or when there is a reasonable chance to believe that they will be violated, the user involved can be quickly expelled from the site, the video in question can be stopped, deleted or limited. The secretariat bears absolutely no responsibility for any harm or damage coming from these actions. However, this does not apply if the secretariat is shown to be grossly negligent because it wrongly accused someone of violating the conditions.
    

 

Article 19 (Changes and alterations in services)

The secretariat may change the contents of the service without any warning to the registered users. The registered user is to abide by those changes. The secretariat cannot be held responsible for damages or losses incurred by those changes to registered users. The secretariat has the right to suspend or discontinue the service following a prior notification period of at least 7 days. Any such notice will be posted on the Wa-shoi! Web, after which time the secretariat cannot be held liable for losses and compensation to registered users.

 

Article 20 (Governing laws and jurisdiction)

Wa-shoi! Web is accessed from around the world but the site is construed in accordance with the laws of Japan. The initial trial to settle any dispute that should arise over the usage of the service shall be held at the Tokyo District Court. However, for matters concerning international usage of the service, users accessing this site are responsible for compliance with local laws.

 

Article 21 (Effectiveness of terms and conditions)

These terms and conditions are effective as of April 1, 2007, and shall take precedence over previously stated terms and conditions.