"Personal information" means "personal information" as defined in Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI): information about a living individual that can identify the specific individual by name, date of birth, address, telephone number, contact details, or other descriptions, as well as data such as facial appearance, fingerprints, or voiceprints, and other information (personal identification codes) that can identify a specific individual on its own. This service complies with the APPI and other applicable laws of Japan and handles personal information in accordance with this policy.

We collect the following information: ・Account information: avatar name (not your real name), email address, year of birth (used to confirm you are 20 or older), gender (optional), and authentication credentials. ・Keywords: topics of interest you select before a session. ・Live audio and video: during a session, your audio and video are streamed in real time so that others may listen in. ・Subtitle text: spoken audio is converted to text and translated to generate live subtitles. ・Survey responses: answers you give in post-session surveys. ・Reactions and reports: stamps you send and any reports you submit. ・Viewing logs: records of sessions you join and listen to (including how long you listen), used to show listener counts and improve the service. ・Country: an approximate country derived from your IP address (a two-letter code such as JP), used to understand where the service is used. We do not store your IP address itself. ・Waitlist information: your email address and, optionally, topics you would like to talk about. ・Inquiry information: your name, email address, inquiry type and message when you contact us.

We use your information to operate the service, enable real-time conversation and live subtitles, confirm age eligibility, respond to inquiries, send updates about BŌCHŌ to people who have contacted us, select beta participants based on the topics shared on the waitlist and send beta invitations, maintain safety (handling reports), and improve the service. You can unsubscribe from updates at any time via the link in each email or by contacting hello@getbocho.com.

Your conversation is streamed live to people who are listening in. To generate live subtitles, your audio is sent to an external provider (DeepL, and in some cases its sub-processors) for speech-to-text and translation. This means your spoken audio leaves our systems and may be processed globally, wherever DeepL operates its infrastructure. Where the GDPR applies, processing in a third country, or the engagement of a sub-processor in a third country, takes place only where the requirements of Articles 44 et seq. of the GDPR are met (for example, an adequacy decision of the European Commission, standard contractual clauses, or approved codes of conduct). DeepL does not use this audio to train its models. We do not generate subtitles without this external processing.

We do not sell your information. To run the service, we share the minimum necessary data with the following processors: ・DeepL — speech-to-text and translation for live subtitles (audio is sent externally). ・LiveKit — real-time audio and video streaming. ・Supabase — database (hosted in Tokyo, Japan). ・Resend — sending email (e.g. confirmation emails and updates). ・Vercel — hosting and delivery of the website.

Except for the processors listed above (to whom we entrust processing within the scope necessary to achieve the purposes of use) and cases permitted under applicable law — such as where required to protect a person's life, body, or property, or where cooperation with a public authority is necessary — we do not provide your personal information to third parties without your prior consent. Provision of personal information in connection with a business succession (e.g. merger) or entrustment of handling is not treated as provision to a third party.

Each session is a live, one-time experience. Recording, screen-capturing, or otherwise saving a session by users is prohibited. BŌCHŌ itself may record sessions solely for the purposes of service improvement, safety review, moderation (such as handling reports), and internal research on mutual understanding and the quality of dialogue, conducted on an anonymized basis. At this time, we do not make recorded sessions public or available for replay (no archive is offered).

We retain account information until you delete your account or request deletion. Records such as surveys, reports, stamps and viewing logs are retained only as long as necessary for the purposes for which they were collected, and are then deleted. Sessions recorded for moderation and similar purposes are deleted after the safety review is complete or after a defined retention period.

You have the right to access, correct, and delete your personal data, to restrict its processing, to object to its processing, and to data portability. To exercise these rights, contact hello@getbocho.com. You may also delete your account at any time. We will respond within a reasonable period.

Our database is located in Japan (Tokyo). Some of our service providers process data outside Japan, as follows: ・Vercel (website and server functions): processed in the United States. ・LiveKit (live audio and video): audio and video are relayed through the server nearest to each user and are not stored. Session analytics data is stored in the United States. ・DeepL (speech-to-text and translation): DeepL reserves the right to process data submitted to its services on a global scale, so your audio may be processed in multiple countries. ・Resend (email delivery): emails are sent from servers in Japan (Tokyo). Where the GDPR applies, provision of the services in a third country, or the engagement of a sub-processor in a third country, takes place only where the requirements of Articles 44 et seq. of the GDPR are met (for example, an adequacy decision of the European Commission, standard contractual clauses, or approved codes of conduct). We have entered into a Data Processing Agreement with DeepL in accordance with Article 28 of the GDPR.

This service is available only to users aged 20 and over. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 20.

In addition to cookies necessary to keep you signed in and to operate the site, we may use cookies for analytics (to improve the service) and for advertising and marketing. These non-essential cookies are used only if you consent through the cookie banner on our site. You may accept or decline, set your preferences by category, and change your settings at any time.

This policy is governed by the laws of Japan. Any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Yamagata District Court as the court of first instance.

We may update this policy. Material changes will be announced on this page.

For any questions regarding this policy or the handling of personal information, please contact the window below. Operator: MACHIKO STUDIO Inc. Address: #303, 1-24-10 Minamihara-machi, Yamagata City, Yamagata 990-2413, Japan Representative: Machiko Shime, Representative Director Data Protection Officer: Machiko Shime Contact: hello@getbocho.com