Privacy Policy
1. Developer Information
Institution Name: The Kitasato Institute (5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Contact Person for Application Operation:
Kazuhiro Watanabe, Ph.D.
Junior Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Address: Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitazato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan
2. Collection Method of Personal Information
When collecting personal information, we define and announce the purpose of use in advance. We collect and utilize data through proper and appropriate methods strictly within the scope necessary to achieve that purpose.
This application collects a user's email address as personally identifiable information during initial registration. Furthermore, when users interact with the application, it retrieves physical activity metrics calculated from tracking sensors (device accelerometers and location adjustments). The retrieved logs are managed securely on our web servers.
The physical activity metrics collected by the application consist of the following data points:
- Physical activity duration (categorized by intensity level)
- Step counts, calculated movement distances, cadence, and walking speed
- Cycling distances, cadence, and cycling speed
3. Purpose of Use of Personal Information
The collected personal information will be utilized exclusively for the operational and functional purposes of the application. It will not be processed for any other purposes. If personal information is to be collected or utilized beyond the items listed below, we will declare the specific purpose of use beforehand in accordance with the preceding section.
The specific operational and functional purposes of the application include:
- Management and administration of user account profiles
- Continuous monitoring of physical activity patterns
- Processing mental health weather forecast scores
- Aggregating anonymized metrics for data sharing among users
- Providing necessary updates, notices, and documentation regarding application operations and research initiatives
4. Safeguards for Secure Personal Information Management
To prevent unauthorized destruction, alteration, loss, or disclosure of personal information, the web servers handling data administration are strictly managed under rigorous organizational, physical, and technical security protocols.
5. Joint Use of Personal Information
The collected personal information is jointly utilized with an external service partner under the following parameters:
- Jointly Utilizing Organization: JAVIS Japan Co., Ltd.
- Purpose of Joint Utilization: To perform technical server maintenance, support database hosting infrastructure, and manage user accounts as declared in Section 3, Purpose (1).
- Shared Data Item: User email address
6. Third-Party Provisions
The Department will never disclose or provide personal information to external third parties without securing explicit prior user consent, except under the following specific circumstances:
- When explicit individual consent has been secured in advance.
- When processing is strictly required to comply with legitimate and statutory judicial decrees, subpoenas, administrative mandates, or governmental orders.
7. Handling of Pseudonymized Information
When generating pseudonymized information (processed data from which personal identifiers have been completely removed so specific individuals cannot be re-identified or reconstructed) for system functionality enhancements or clinical research, we consult directly with the Clinical Research Support Center of Kitasato University and proceed only after securing official validation from the institutional Ethics Committee.
According to the "Basic Approach to the Management and Utilization of Publicly Funded Research Data (April 27, 2021, Integrated Innovation Strategy Promotion Council, Cabinet Office of Japan)," research data serving as empirical evidence for publicly funded papers should, in principle, be made public, and other research outputs should also be shared broadly to the extent possible. Based on this guidance, when the application is utilized within our academic workflows, compiled data may be published in a fully anonymized, aggregated format from which individual identity cannot be traced.
Whenever data retrieved from the application is utilized for research purposes, an overview will be announced on the official app homepage, via in-app push notifications, and detailed on the Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine Website. If you wish to revoke your permission and deny participation in a specific study, please contact the administrative registrar declared in the corresponding opt-out document (PDF).
8. Disclosure, Correction, and Suspension of Personal Information
Your collected personal data remains archived on our web servers throughout the active life cycle of your application usage. If an active user submits a petition requesting the disclosure (including disclosure of third-party provision logs), rectification, suspension of use, permanent erasure, or cessation of third-party sharing regarding their personal records, we will fulfill the request promptly upon validating absolute proof of identity.
If a user triggers the account deletion/termination workflow from the app's internal configuration panel, all personal information stored on the server is immediately deleted. Please note that simply uninstalling the application from your mobile device does not delete your archived personal data from our servers.
9. Contact Information for Inquiries and Complaints
For administrative questions, data protection clarification, regulatory complaints, or general inquiries concerning our handling of personal information, please reach out via the email address below. A representative will review your message and reply within a few business days.
Operational Registrar Contact Info:
Kazuhiro Watanabe, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Address: Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan
10. About SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Encryption
Our database servers managing personal information support standard SSL (Secure Socket Layer) cryptographic protocols, ensuring all active data communications routed between your web browser and the server infrastructure remain completely encrypted.
11. Intellectual Property & Copyrights
All structural content, text bodies, script logic, and graphics integrated within this application and official website are fully protected under international copyright and portrait legislation. Unauthorized distribution, reproduction, or commercial repurposing is strictly prohibited.
12. Establishment and Revision Dates
Established: February 22, 2023 (ver 0.0)
Revised: July 10, 2023 (ver 1.0)
Revised: April 22, 2024 (ver 2.0)
Revised: July 16, 2024 (ver 3.0)
Revised: March 7, 2025 (ver 4.0)
Revised: October 24, 2025 (ver 5.0)