In order to apply for various applicable programs offered by the Japan Foundation via its Online Application Portal (this “Website”), you need to agree to the terms of use of this Website (these “Terms”). Please make sure to read these Terms before using this Website. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use this Website and you shall discontinue using this Website immediately. In addition, if you use this Website, you will be deemed to have agreed to these Terms.

Content of this Website

This Website is provided by the Japan Foundation free of charge for those applicants who wish to apply for its designated programs.

Applicability

1. The purpose of these Terms is to prescribe the terms for the provision of this Website and the relationship of rights and obligations between the Japan Foundation and Users (meaning those persons defined in Article 3) regarding the use of this Website. These Terms are applicable to any and all relationships between the Japan Foundation and Users regarding the use of this Website.
2. In the event of any difference between these Terms and any explanation or other similar description of this Website not included in these Terms, the provisions of these Terms shall prevail.

Definition of Users

1. A “User” of this Website refers to an applicant (corporation, group or individual) who uses this Website to apply for various programs offered by the Japan Foundation. It also includes those who use this Website as an agent for an applicant.
2. In principle, if an applicant is a corporation or group, the project director shall be the User and make an application with application documents approved by the representative of such organization. If the project director cannot use this Website, an agent may make an application on their behalf; provided, however, that these Terms will apply to the entire organization of the relevant corporation or group.
3. In principle, if an applicant is an individual, the applicant will be the User who makes an application. While an agent for the applicant may also make an application, these Terms will still apply to the applicant in such case.
4. Users who wish to use this Website need to follow the registration procedures on this Website and create their accounts.
5. The Japan Foundation shall send notices and other messages to Users regarding their applications at their registered e-mail addresses; provided, however, that if the Japan Foundation cannot provide a notice or other message via those e-mail addresses, it shall have the authority to void the application and disable the account.
6. Users shall use this Website under their own responsibility and judgment, shall manage their information required for the use of this Website or their applications (“User Information”) and application documents to be submitted, and shall not pursue the Japan Foundation’s responsibility in any way.
7. Users shall prepare all of the devices and software necessary for the use of this Website and bear communication costs on their own.
8. If an application is not made properly due to a User’s fault or mistake in the use of this Website, the User shall bear responsibility for the failure and the Japan Foundation shall bear no responsibility. Users shall confirm the status of their applications on their own and make sure that their applications have been made properly.

Applications

1. In the case of applications from corporations or groups, their application documents must be reviewed and approved by the following three persons before the submission thereof: the authorized representative, project director, and accounting director. Tick the check box at the end of the Application Form to indicate that the form has been approved. Any application not approved by the authorized representative, project director, accounting director or other relevant party shall become void.
2. When making an application, please read the Application Instructions for the relevant program carefully. Any User who has made an application shall be deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions stated in the Application Instructions.
3. If the Japan Foundation determines that an application includes false information, it may void the application without prior notice. In addition, if it determines that an application includes false information after approving the application, it may revoke the approval or demand a refund from the User.
4. While this Website adopts Japan Standard Time and corrects the time regularly, there may be a time error between the time under its system and the actual time. Even if you miss the application deadline for any program due to such error, we will not accept any application after the application deadline. Please make sure to review the application deadline for the program and make an application well in advance. For the avoidance of doubt, an application from a User shall be determined to have reached us when all of the application data necessary for the application for the program has been entered on the server of this Website. Upon completion of entry, the User’s screen will indicate to that effect.

Management of accounts, User Information and other similar data

1. When using this Website, Users shall provide the Japan Foundation with their User Information as necessary. In order to acquire an account, Users need to enter the applicant’s name, e-mail address, country/area of residence and other relevant information. These types of information shall also be included in User Information.
2. If an application to acquire an account is made as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Japan Foundation shall grant an account to a User and retain their User Information provided.
3. When Users provide their User Information, they must provide true, accurate and complete information and, in order to keep the information updated, they shall promptly notify the Japan Foundation of any change in their User Information. The Japan Foundation shall have no liability for any trouble or disadvantage incurred by a User due to the User’s failure to notify the Japan Foundation of any change, deficiency or error in the information registered by the User, whether or not it is caused by the User intentionally or negligently. The User shall solve the problem on their own.
4. Users shall notify the Japan Foundation if they wish to delete their accounts.
5. When designating their User IDs and passwords upon registration, Users shall designate character strings that are difficult for third parties to guess, manage them strictly under their own responsibility and make sure that they will not be divulged to any third party. The Japan Foundation may deem that any and all acts performed using the registered User ID and password of a User have been performed by that User.
6. If it is discovered that a User’s account, User ID or password has been lost, stolen or misused or other similar incident has occurred, the User shall promptly notify the Japan Foundation and follow its instructions.
7. The Japan Foundation shall have no liability for any damage incurred by a User due to the User’s negligence or error, including their improper management or error in the use of, or a third party’s use of, their account, User ID or password, whether or not it is caused by the User intentionally or negligently.
8. If Users forget their User IDs or become aware of a third party’s use of their accounts, they shall follow the procedures to reset their accounts immediately by the method designated by the Japan Foundation.
9. The Japan Foundation shall properly handle any and all information, including User Information and personal information acquired from Users, in accordance with the “Handling of Personal Information” separately established by the Japan Foundation and Users shall agree that the Japan Foundation will handle their information in accordance with the “Handling of Personal Information.”
10. Users may not cause any third party to use their accounts by way of the transfer, lease or succession to the right to use them or by other similar means.

Operation and use, etc. of this Website

1. This Website is operated by the Japan Foundation, which holds the copyright thereto.
2. Users shall agree that: (i) the only right that has been granted to them is the right to use their accounts for this Website; (ii) they have no right of ownership or other property rights concerning their accounts; and (iii) their accounts have no monetary value.

Prohibitions

When using this Website, Users are prohibited from committing any of the acts listed below. If a User commits, or the Japan Foundation determines that a User could commit, any of such acts, the Japan Foundation may suspend or restrict the User’s use of this Website, erase the collected information and take other necessary measures without prior notice.

1. To use this Website for any purpose other than making an application;
2. To transfer computer viruses and files infected with a computer virus;
3. To commit any act that violates these Terms or any act that infringes the intellectual property rights, privacy rights and other rights or interests of the Japan Foundation, other users of this Website and other third parties;
4. To commit any act that could hinder the management and operation of this Website;
5. To gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to the network or system of this Website;
6. To commit any act that overloads the network or system of this Website;
7. To acquire an account with false User Information and make an application with that applicant’s account;
8. To use applicant accounts and passwords of other users;
9. To impersonate a third party;
10. To distribute, send or otherwise provide this Website, in whole or in part, to any third party, or to modify or attempt to modify this Website; or
11. To commit any other act that is found to violate laws, regulations and other rules.

Deletion of accounts

1. In the case where Users intend to delete their accounts pursuant to Article 5, Paragraph 4, if they have any obligations to the Japan Foundation at such timing, any and all of their obligations owed to the Japan Foundation shall be accelerated and become immediately due and payable.
2. The Japan Foundation has no obligation to continue to retain any information, including personal information, of Users who have deleted their accounts.

Damages

Users shall compensate the Japan Foundation for any damage caused to the Japan Foundation due to a reason attributable to them (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees actually incurred).

Disclaimers

1. While the Japan Foundation makes this Website available to Users, it does not guarantee that this Website is free from defects.
2. The Japan Foundation shall have no liability for any damage incurred by Users or any damage caused by Users to any third party as a result of their use of this Website.
3. The Japan Foundation shall have no liability for any damage resulting from the suspension, cessation, interruption or restriction of this Website, in whole or in part, due to any of the following reasons:
   • Maintenance and inspection work conducted for this Website;
   • Suspension of computers, communication lines and other similar equipment due to an accident;
   • Earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, lightning, heavy rain, floods and other natural disasters, wars, terrorism, revolution, labor disputes, the spread of infectious diseases and other force majeure;
   • Failures and other troubles affecting the operation of this Website; and
   • Other reasons for which the Japan Foundation determines that suspension, cessation, interruption or restriction is necessary.
4. The Japan Foundation shall have no responsibility for any link to this Website from any website other than that of the Japan Foundation.

Revision and amendment of this Website and these Terms

1. The Japan Foundation may revise this Website at its discretion.
2. If the Japan Foundation intends to amend these Terms, it shall indicate the terms after the amendment and the time when the amendment will become effective and announce the amendment by posting a notice on this Website or other appropriate method; provided, however, that if the Japan Foundation finds it necessary, it may amend any of the clauses of these Terms or add a new clause hereto at any time without giving prior notice to Users.
3. If Users continue to use this Website after the amendment of these Terms pursuant to the preceding paragraph, they shall be deemed to have agreed to the amended or added clause. Please review the latest version of these Terms whenever you use this Website.

No transfer of rights and obligations, etc.

Users may not transfer to any third party, cause any third party to succeed to, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of their rights or obligations concerning this Website.

Severability; no waiver of rights

Even if a portion of these Terms is found to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable by any law or regulation, etc., the remaining provisions hereof shall be modified and interpreted in a way that will retain the original effect to the maximum extent possible and other provisions of these Terms shall remain effective. If the Japan Foundation waives any of its rights under these Terms on a single occasion, it shall not be deemed to have waived its exercise of rights on other occasions entirely.

Language, governing law and jurisdiction

Even if this Website uses any language other than Japanese, such other language is used for reference purposes only and the content stated in Japanese shall prevail. These Terms shall be governed by the laws of Japan. In addition, the parties hereto agree that the Tokyo District Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction for the first instance over all disputes that arise between the Japan Foundation and Users with respect to the use of this Website or these Terms.

Supplementary provision

These Terms shall come into force on August 31, 2022.