HOKUTO

HOKUTO Corporation (hereinafter, “Hokuto”) has established the following privacy policy (hereinafter, “this Policy”) for the purpose of building a system for protecting personal information and promoting the protection of personal information as regards the handling of personal information of users of the Hokuto website.

“Personal information” refers to “personal information” as defined in the Act on the Protection of Personal Information of Japan (Act No. 57 of 2003; hereinafter, "Personal Information Protection Act"), which refers to it as information about living individuals, such as names, dates of birth or other descriptive information, or information containing individual identification codes, that can be used to identify a specific individual.

Hokuto will collect and use the personal information of website users to the extent necessary for the following purposes.

1. To communicate information regarding the business, services, etc., that our company handles
2. To fulfill contractual obligations relating to transactions between Hokuto and the party to whom the personal information pertains (such obligations include, but are not limited to, processing orders and payments)
3. To facilitate the performance of maintenance, the communication of important announcements, etc., as necessary
4. To respond to inquiries, provide consultations, etc.
5. To manage and operate events and other activities hosted by Hokuto
6. To send recruitment information to job applicants and to carry out recruitment selection activities (in the case of personal information of job applicants)
7. To manage Hokuto’s recruitment operations (in the case of personal information of job applicants)
8. To otherwise comply with applicable laws, regulations and other requirements (e.g., cooperating with law enforcement, regulatory authorities and other government agencies)

1. Access Logs

   Information about users’ access to websites operated by Hokuto is recorded on Hokuto’s server as an access log and stored for a set period of time.

2. Cookies

   Cookies are a means by which a website provider temporarily writes data, such as the history of data sent and received via a Web browser, onto a user's computer and saves it as a file. Users can refuse to send or receive cookies by changing their browser settings, however, if they do so, they will not be able to properly use the information and services provided by websites operated by Hokuto.

3. Purpose of Use of Cookies

   Hokuto uses cookies to improve customer convenience, such as by eliminating the need for customers to repeatedly enter the same information when browsing this website. Hokuto may use information collected through cookies to analyze users’ website usage (access status, traffic, routing, etc.) and to improve the performance of the website itself and the services Hokuto provides its customers.

4. Types of Cookies

   Hokuto’s websites use what are called session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are temporary cookies that remain on the user's device only for the duration of his/her visit to the website. Persistent cookies, on the other hand, are stored on the user’s device after he/she has finished browsing the website and will remain on the device until the cookies either expire or are deleted by the user. The expiration date varies for each individual cookie. In addition, third-party cookie information may be collected on this website. Third-party cookies are cookies placed on this website by a non-Hokuto third party on behalf of Hokuto. For detailed information about third-party cookies and the opt-out procedures for the use of such cookies, please refer to the privacy policies or other policies of the third parties using the cookies.

5. Google Analytics

   Hokuto may use Google Analytics to analyze access to websites which Hokuto operates.
   For more information about Google Analytics, please refer to the following website.
   https://www.google.com/intl/ja/policies/privacy/partners/

6. Disabling Cookies

   Users can disable all cookies by changing their browser settings. However, please be aware that disabling cookies may render some Hokuto website functions unusable.

7. SSL (Secure Socket Layer)

   Hokuto’s website is SSL-enabled, which means communication between users’ web browsers and Hokuto’s web server are encrypted. Any personal information users enter, such as their name, address, or phone number, is automatically encrypted.

8. Copyright and Portrait Rights

   All text, images and other content on Hokuto’s website are protected by copyright and portrait rights, and any use or repurposing without permission is prohibited.

9. Links

   Users are free to set up links to Hokuto’s website. However, Hokuto may refuse linking depending on such considerations as the content of the website from which Hokuto’s website is being linked.

Hokuto will manage personal information appropriately and will not disclose or provide personal information to third parties without the user's consent. In addition, for the sake of safety, Hokuto will take preventive and corrective measures to address such risks as unauthorized access to personal information or the loss, destruction, falsification or leakage of personal information.

Within the scope necessary to achieve the Purpose of Use, Hokuto may outsource personal information handling completely or in part to third parties. In such cases, Hokuto will thoroughly screen the third parties to ensure their suitability, will stipulate confidentiality-related matters and obligations in the agreement concluded with said third parties, and will perform necessary and appropriate supervision of the third parties.

To the extent necessary to achieve the Purpose of Use, Hokuto may jointly use users’ personal information within the following scope and for the following purposes.

<Scope of Personal Information for Sharing>
Information stipulated in Article 1 above

<Purpose of Shared Use>
Purposes stipulated in Article 2 above

<Scope of Parties Using Shared Information>
Please refer to the list of group companies.

Users may request that Hokuto disclose their personal information held by Hokuto in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 10. When Hokuto receives such a request from a user, Hokuto will disclose the information to the user without delay. However, if disclosure would result in any of the following, Hokuto may refrain from disclosing all or part of the information, and, if the decision is made to refrain from disclosure, Hokuto will notify the user of that decision without delay.

1. When there is a risk of harm to the life, body, property or other rights and interests of the user or a third party

2. When there is a risk of significant disruption to the proper performance of Hokuto's business

3. When disclosure would violate laws or regulations

1. If the personal information of a user held by Hokuto is incorrect, the user may request Hokuto to correct, add to or delete (hereinafter, "Correct") the personal information in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 10.

2. When Hokuto receives a request as per the preceding paragraph, it will conduct the necessary investigation without delay and, if it determines that the request is justified, will Correct the personal information without delay.

1. Users may request Hokuto to suspend the use of, delete, or suspend the provision to third parties of their personal information held by Hokuto (hereinafter, “Suspend Use”) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article 10.

2. When Hokuto receives a request as per the preceding paragraph, it will conduct the necessary investigation without delay and, if it determines that the request is justified, will Suspend Use of the personal information. However, if Suspending Use of the personal information would require significant financial expenditure or would otherwise be difficult to implement, and if alternative measures necessary to protect the rights and interests of the user can be taken, Hokuto will take these alternative measures.

If a user wishes to make a request as per Articles 7 to 9, he/she should contact the inquiry desk given in Article 15.

Hokuto will review the contents of this Policy as appropriate and will strive to improve it. The contents of this Policy may be changed, except for those matters which are specified by laws, regulations, or otherwise in this Policy. The revised Privacy Policy will take effect upon notification to users in a manner specified by Hokuto or when it is posted on Hokuto's website.

Hokuto will comply with Japanese laws and other regulations that apply to the personal information Hokuto holds.

Hokuto will accept complaints and inquiries from users regarding the handling of personal information and will respond appropriately and promptly.

With regard to users’ personal information, Hokuto will restrict access to personal information files, maintain access log records, implement security measures to prevent unauthorized outside access and take other organizational, physical, personnel and technical measures to prevent unauthorized intrusion into, or the loss, destruction, falsification, leakage, etc., of personal information. In the unlikely event that leakage of users’ personal information or some other such incident occurs, Hokuto will promptly report it to the supervisory authorities in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act and related guidelines and will follow the instructions of said authorities to take necessary measures, including, but not limited to, measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents or to prevent reoccurrence.

For inquiries regarding Hokuto’s handling of personal information, please get in touch with Hokuto using the contact details below.

155 Gonishi-cho, Komaki, Aichi 485-0823, Japan
Personal Information Liaison, HR & General Affairs Dept., HOKUTO Corporation

Phone

+81-568-78-5555

Fax

+81-568-78-5564