Privacy Policy

AK JAPAN IMPORTS Inc.

Effective Date: 2026/05/04 Last Updated: 2026/05/04

1. Introduction

AK JAPAN IMPORTS Inc. (“AK Japan,” “we,” “us,” or “our“) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you:

visit our websites at akjapanimports.com (collectively, the “Sites“);
register as a manufacturer or buyer on our B2B platform;
purchase products through our online shop;
use our translation, intermediary, or consulting services;
otherwise communicate with us.

By using our Sites or services, you consent to the practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our Sites or services.

2. Who We Are

Controller of your personal information:

Company Name: AK JAPAN IMPORTS Inc.
Address: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

If you are a resident of Japan, the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or California, you have additional rights — see Section 10.

3. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information:

3.1 Information you provide directly

Account & registration data (B2B platform): company name, business address, business registration number, representative’s name, job title, business email, phone number, website URL, and information about products you manufacture or wish to source.
Customer data (online shop): full name, shipping and billing address, email address, phone number, and order history.
Payment information: processed by our third-party payment processors (we do not store full credit card numbers on our servers).
Communications: the content of emails, contact form submissions, and any documents you send to us.
Subscription information: plan tier, billing details, and renewal preferences for B2B subscribers.

3.2 Information collected automatically

Device and usage data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, referring URLs, pages viewed, and timestamps.
Cookies and similar technologies: see Section 9.
Location data: approximate location derived from IP address.

3.3 Information from third parties

Information from social media platforms when you interact with our pages or sign in via social login.
Information from analytics and advertising partners.

We do not knowingly collect “sensitive personal information” (such as health, race, religion, or political views) unless strictly necessary and with your explicit consent.

4. Why We Collect Your Information (Purposes of Use)

We use your personal information only for the following specific purposes:

Account creation and management — registering and verifying manufacturer and buyer accounts.
Order fulfillment — processing purchases on akjapanshop.com, including shipping and customer service.
B2B matchmaking — connecting Japanese manufacturers with North American buyers through our platform.
Translation and intermediary services — facilitating communication and negotiations between parties.
Subscription billing — charging recurring fees and managing renewals for B2B subscribers.
Customer support — responding to inquiries, complaints, and warranty matters.
Marketing communications — sending newsletters and promotional offers (only with your consent, where required by law).
Site improvement and analytics — understanding how our Sites are used and improving them.
Fraud prevention and security — detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions and unauthorized access.
Legal compliance — complying with applicable laws, including tax, customs, and import/export regulations.

We will not use your personal information for purposes materially different from those listed above without notifying you and, where required, obtaining your consent.

5. Legal Basis for Processing (EEA / UK Users)

Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, we rely on the following legal bases:

Contract — to provide services you have requested (e.g., processing an order or subscription).
Consent — for marketing communications and certain cookies; you may withdraw consent at any time.
Legitimate interests — for site analytics, fraud prevention, and improving our services, provided these do not override your rights.
Legal obligation — to comply with tax, customs, and other laws.

6. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with the following categories of recipients:

Recipient	Purpose
Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal — [confirm actual processors])	To process payments securely
Shipping and logistics providers	To deliver products and handle customs
Cloud hosting providers (e.g., [confirm: AWS, WordPress.com, etc.])	To host the Sites and store data
Email and communication tools (e.g., [confirm: Mailchimp, Google Workspace, etc.])	To send transactional and marketing emails
Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics)	To understand site usage
Translation service providers	When facilitating communication between parties
Manufacturers / buyers on the platform	To facilitate B2B introductions you have requested
Professional advisors (lawyers, accountants, auditors)	For legal and accounting purposes
Government authorities	When required by law or court order

We require all third parties to handle your personal information in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred to the acquiring entity, subject to the same protections described in this Policy.

7. International Data Transfers

Because our business connects Japan and North America, your personal information may be transferred across borders. Specifically:

Information from Japanese manufacturers is transferred to and stored in Canada (and may be accessed by service providers in the United States).
Information from North American customers may be shared with Japanese manufacturers when you initiate a B2B inquiry or purchase.

For Japanese residents: Under Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), we provide the following information regarding cross-border transfers:

Destination country: Canada (and the United States for certain service providers).
Data protection systems: Canada has been recognized by Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) as providing protection equivalent to APPI for personal information transferred from Japan. The United States does not have a comprehensive federal privacy law, but we contractually require U.S.-based service providers to implement APPI-equivalent safeguards.
By providing your information, you consent to this cross-border transfer.

For EEA / UK residents: Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA / UK, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses or other lawful transfer mechanisms.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, or as required by law:

Account information: for the duration of the account, plus [7] years thereafter (to comply with Canadian tax and business records requirements).
Order and payment records: [7] years (Canadian Income Tax Act).
Marketing data: until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe.
Website analytics: typically [26] months.

After these periods, we delete or anonymize your information.

9. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our Sites use cookies and similar technologies to:

enable essential functions (e.g., shopping cart, login);
remember your preferences;
analyze traffic and performance;
deliver targeted advertising (with your consent where required).

You can manage cookies through your browser settings or our cookie consent tool. Disabling cookies may affect site functionality.

A separate Cookie Policy [link] provides full details, including a list of specific cookies we use.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you have the following rights:

10.1 All users

Access: request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: request that we correct inaccurate information.
Deletion: request that we delete your personal information (subject to legal exceptions).
Withdraw consent: where we rely on consent.
Complaint: file a complaint with a regulator (see Section 14).

10.2 Residents of Japan (APPI)

You may also request:

disclosure of how we use your data;
suspension of use or third-party provision;
correction, addition, or deletion;
a record of any third-party transfers.

10.3 Residents of the EEA / UK (GDPR)

You also have rights to:

restrict processing;
data portability;
object to processing;
not be subject to solely automated decision-making.

10.4 Residents of California (CCPA / CPRA)

You have rights to know, delete, correct, opt out of “sale” or “sharing” (we do not sell personal information), and limit use of sensitive personal information. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

10.5 Residents of Canada (PIPEDA / BC PIPA)

You have the right to access and correct your personal information held by us, and to challenge our compliance.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [privacy@akjapanimports.com]. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law (typically within 30 days).

11. Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include:

SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit;
access controls and authentication;
regular security reviews;
employee confidentiality obligations.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

In the event of a data breach affecting your information, we will notify you and the relevant regulators in accordance with applicable law.

12. Children’s Privacy

Our Sites and services are not directed to children under [13]. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. The “Last Updated” date at the top will reflect any changes. For material changes, we will provide reasonable notice (e.g., by email or a prominent notice on the Sites). Continued use of the Sites after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

14. How to Contact Us / Regulator Information

For any questions, requests, or complaints about this Policy or our handling of your personal information:

AK JAPAN IMPORTS Inc. Attn: Privacy Officer [INSERT FULL ADDRESS] Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Email: [privacy@akjapanimports.com]

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with the appropriate regulator:

Canada (federal): Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada — priv.gc.ca
British Columbia: Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC — oipc.bc.ca
Japan: Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) — ppc.go.jp
EEA: your local Data Protection Authority
UK: Information Commissioner’s Office — ico.org.uk
California: California Privacy Protection Agency — cppa.ca.gov

End of Privacy Policy