J-Subculture Terms of Use (English version)
Zipangu LLC (hereinafter referred to as 'we') hereby sets forth the Terms of Use for the website 'J-Subculture' (hereinafter referred to as 'this Service') as follows. By using this Service, users are deemed to have agreed to these Terms of Use. In the event of any discrepancies between language versions, the Japanese version shall prevail.
Article 1 (Scope and Revisions of These Terms)
- These Terms shall apply to users of the Service provided by us.
- Users shall use this Service in accordance with these Terms and with various guidelines and rules separately stipulated by us.
- We may revise these Terms and the contents of the Service without obtaining prior consent from users, by providing notice via the Service or other methods we deem appropriate. Continued use of the Service after such changes shall be deemed as consent to the revised Terms.
Article 2 (Overview of the Service)
- Users may use this Service. We may, as necessary, add to, change, or suspend the contents of this Service, and may also revise the service fees. All users shall be deemed to have agreed to such changes in advance.
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The following services are provided through this Service:
- Product search proxy service
- Purchasing proxy service for items sold in Japan
- Auction bidding proxy service
- International shipping service for purchased and won items
- Warehouse storage service for purchased and won items
- Other related or supplementary services to the above
Article 3 (Disclaimer)
- We shall not be liable for any damages incurred by users in the event that the provision of this Service is temporarily suspended, discontinued, or modified due to natural disasters, war, riots, amendments or abolishment of laws, orders from public authorities, acts of interference by third parties, or other force majeure events.
- We do not guarantee that emails or content sent from our website, servers, or domains are free of computer viruses or other harmful elements.
- We shall not be liable for any disadvantages incurred by users as a result of administrative procedures conducted based on the user’s registered information.
- If a user causes damage to a third party through use of this Service, the user shall resolve the matter at their own responsibility and expense and shall not cause any harm or disadvantage to us.
- Users shall bear all consumption tax and other taxes incurred in Japan at the time of purchase.
- In addition to the amounts presented by us, customs duties or import taxes may be levied in each country or region. Users shall be responsible for paying such taxes and should inquire with the relevant customs authorities for details.
- Our responsibility ends when the purchased or won item is handed over to the shipping carrier. We are not liable for any loss, damage, or delay after handover. However, we will cooperate to the extent possible with insurance claims and package tracking.
- We shall not be held liable for any damages resulting from delivery delays or other causes.
- We are not responsible for any trouble arising from proxy purchases on auction or flea market sites. However, we will cooperate to the extent possible, taking into account communication with sellers, the rules of the relevant site, Japanese laws, and commercial practices.
Article 4 (User Registration)
- Those who wish to register as a member must accurately enter and submit the required information on the designated registration page of this Service.
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We may refuse membership registration if any of the following apply. If any of the following is discovered after registration, we may suspend the user’s access to the Service, cancel their registration, or take other appropriate measures without prior notice.
- If false information is provided in the membership application
- If we determine that the applicant is unsuitable as a member in accordance with these Terms
- If the applicant has previously defaulted on obligations in our services without legitimate reason
- If the same individual registers or holds multiple accounts
- If we determine that the operation of this Service may be hindered
- Members must promptly update their registered information using the prescribed method if there are any changes.
- We shall not be liable for any disadvantage or damage caused by a member's failure to update their registration information.
- Members may not transfer, lend, change the name of, pledge, or otherwise allow third-party use of their right to receive this Service.
- If a minor wishes to use this Service, consent from a legal guardian is required. Those under the age of 18 without such consent may not use this Service.
Article 5 (Withdrawal)
- Members may withdraw from this Service at any time using the method prescribed by us.
- All points held by the user at the time of withdrawal shall become invalid and cannot be refunded or converted to cash. The user is deemed to have agreed to this upon withdrawal.
Article 6 (Management of User ID and Password)
- Members are solely responsible for managing their own user ID and password.
- Members shall not transfer, disclose, lend, or otherwise allow third parties to use their user ID and password.
- We shall not be liable for any damages incurred by users or third parties due to mismanagement, misuse, or unauthorized use of user IDs and passwords.
Article 7 (Prohibited Acts)
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Users shall not engage in any of the following acts:
- Registering or entering false information
- Acts that cause or may cause annoyance, disadvantage, or damage to other users, third parties, or us
- Acts that infringe or may infringe on copyrights, intellectual property rights, privacy rights, personal rights, or other rights of other users, third parties, or us
- Acts that are or may be contrary to public order and morals
- Acts that violate or may violate laws and regulations
- Acts that obstruct or may obstruct the operation of this Service
- Lending, transferring, or sharing user IDs or passwords with third parties
- This Service is intended for users outside of Japan, and use from within Japan is prohibited.
Article 8 (About Proxy Services)
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Users agree to pay the service fees listed on the following page when using our proxy services.
[Service Fee Information Page] https://www.j-subculture.com/pages/cost
- Cancellations and refunds cannot be accepted after bidding or completing a purchase. Users must confirm the accuracy and authenticity of product information provided by the seller at their own responsibility. We are not liable for the authenticity of any products.
- We are not responsible for compensation if an item arrives at our warehouse in damaged condition. However, we will make efforts to resolve the issue, including communication with the seller, to the extent possible.
- Even if an item is found to be ineligible for international shipping after bidding or purchase, cancellations, returns, or refunds are not permitted. In such cases, the item may be discarded by us.
- Users shall not file unjustified complaints or compensation claims with PayPal, credit card companies, or other payment institutions when we are not at fault. If a user files multiple disputes without just cause, we may suspend or terminate their access to this Service.
Article 9 (About the Purchasing Proxy Service)
- Users must prepay not only the product price but also service fees, domestic shipping fees, cash-on-delivery fees, bank transfer fees, and other related charges when making a purchase.
- When using the Instant Purchase function, users must first deposit funds (deposit) via the method specified by us.
- When a product is purchased using Instant Purchase, the product price, service fees, domestic shipping fees, cash-on-delivery fees, bank transfer fees, and other charges will be automatically deducted from the deposit.
Article 10 (About the Auction Bidding Proxy Service)
- To use the auction bidding proxy service, users must deposit funds (deposit) in advance using the method specified by us before placing any bids.
- Bids cannot exceed the amount of the deposited funds. However, based on past transaction history, we may exceptionally allow bids exceeding the deposit amount for users we approve. The screening criteria will not be disclosed.
- At the time a bid is placed, a deposit equivalent to the bid amount will be held (locked). If the user does not win the auction or completes payment for auction-related fees after winning, the held deposit will be automatically released.
- If the user wins the auction, they are required to pay the product price as well as service fees, domestic shipping fees, cash-on-delivery fees, and bank transfer fees.
- After winning an item, the user must make full payment promptly. If payment is not confirmed within three days after the winning bid, we will automatically settle the amount using the deposit.
- Cancellations after bidding are not accepted under any circumstances. Users must carefully bid only on items they genuinely intend to purchase.
Article 11 (About the Item Storage Service)
- Purchased items can be stored free of charge for 45 days from the date they arrive at our warehouse. After 45 days, a designated storage fee will be charged.
- If no shipping request or storage extension procedure is made within 90 days after the item's arrival, we may discard the item. In such cases, the item cost will not be refunded. Users are deemed to have agreed to this policy in advance.
Article 12 (Shipping)
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Users shall agree in advance to the costs, compensation terms, and other conditions related to international shipping.
[Shipping Information Page] https://www.j-subculture.com/pages/shipping
- If users wish to request shipping, they must do so via their My Page account.
- Multiple items included in the same shipping request will, in principle, be shipped together in a single package.
- For international shipping, users must prepay not only the shipping fees but also service charges and other related fees.
- For international transactions, customs duties, import taxes, and other charges may be incurred upon receipt. All such costs shall be borne by the user, and we assume no obligation to pay them.
- Compensation for damage or loss during shipping will be handled in accordance with the shipping carrier’s compensation policy. Therefore, we are not liable for damages such as box dents or other non-covered claims. In addition, users may not file compensation claims with PayPal, credit card companies, or other payment services in cases not covered.
- Post-shipment guarantees are subject to the insurance policies of the shipping company. We do not provide any coverage beyond that.
- If the case qualifies for compensation, we will refund the user directly.
- If the item is returned to us due to recipient absence or any other reason, the original shipping fee will not be refunded. Users must pay a new shipping fee if they wish to have the item reshipped.
- When we are not at fault, users are prohibited from filing unjustified complaints or claims with PayPal, credit card companies, or other payment institutions. If such disputes are filed repeatedly without just cause, we may restrict or prohibit use of this Service.
Article 13 (Payment Methods for Various Fees)
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Users shall review and agree to the details and fees related to payments as specified on the following page.
[Payment Information Page] https://www.j-subculture.com/pages/payment
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The following payment methods are available to users:
- Credit card and digital wallet payments via Stripe
- PayPal
- Wise (formerly TransferWise)
- Payoneer
- International bank transfer
- Domestic bank transfer within Japan
- Cryptocurrency
- Site points
- Deposit payments
- Deposits can be made in Japanese yen in units of 1,000 yen.
- To request a refund of a deposit, users must apply using our designated form or the BBS. Refund processing takes a minimum of one business day and up to a maximum of three business days.
- Any transaction fees paid by us to the payment provider during deposit will be borne by the user upon refund.
- Refunds will, in principle, be made via the same method used for the original deposit. However, if a refund via the original method is not feasible, we may choose an alternative method at our discretion.
- Points available on the site cannot be converted into cash.
- Deposits can be converted into points usable on the site. Once converted, points can only be used for payments within this Service.
Article 14 (Privacy Policy)
- Personal information of members shall be strictly managed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
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We will collect and use users' personal information for the following purposes:
- Screening and registration procedures for membership of this Service
- Communication related to this Service
- Shipping of products
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We will not disclose or provide users' personal information to third parties except in the following cases:
- When the user consents to the disclosure or sharing of information
- When formally requested by a court, police, or other public authority in accordance with laws and regulations
- When there is an imminent danger to a person's life, body, or property, and it is urgent and necessary
Article 15 (Service Maintenance)
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To maintain a stable service environment, we may temporarily suspend all or part of the Service without prior notice to users if any of the following circumstances apply. We shall not be liable for any disadvantage or damage incurred by users as a result.
- When regular system maintenance is conducted
- When emergency maintenance is deemed necessary
- When natural disasters such as fire, earthquake, flood, lightning, or heavy snow occur
- When war, civil unrest, terrorism, riots, or other social instability occurs
- When stable system operation becomes difficult due to unauthorized access or interference by third parties
- When we determine that temporary suspension of the Service is necessary due to other unavoidable circumstances
Article 16 (Prohibited and Restricted Items for Export and Import)
- Certain items are prohibited or restricted for export under Japan's Customs Act and other relevant laws. Users are responsible for confirming prior to ordering that the item does not fall under such restrictions. Even if it is later found that the item is restricted, we will not accept cancellations or issue refunds.
- Import regulations may apply in the destination country or region. Users are responsible for checking with local authorities before purchasing to confirm import eligibility. We shall not be held liable for any damages resulting from violation of such regulations, and we will not accept cancellations or refunds in such cases.
Article 17 (Jurisdiction)
- If litigation becomes necessary in connection with this Service or these Terms of Use, the Fukuoka District Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction as the court of first instance.
Article 18 (Miscellaneous)
- In principle, communication between us and users shall be conducted via the BBS (bulletin board system) and email.