Privacy Policy

 Privacy Policy for Kazoku - Family www.family-kazoku.org - Purpose, Disclaimer Policy, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use


Effective Date: July 1, 2024

Thank you for visiting and contributing to Kazoku - Family  ("we", "our", "us"). Kazoku - Family is committed to protecting our privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard our information when you visit our website [www.kazoku-family.org]. Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not use the Site. This policy is meant to protect all of our family contributors to this site.

1. Information We Collect

2. How We Use Your Information

3. Sharing Your Information

4. Data Security

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures designed to secure our personal information from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. Only family members are accorded any editing access rights upon need or request. 

5. Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to access, correct, update, or delete your personal information. You should object and report to Julia Yamaoka Thorn or Michael Thorn any abuse of your personal information or request that we edit your information. 

6. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at Julia Yamaoka Thorn, juliathorn.family@gmail.com, 252-286-8533, 5122 Chalk Street, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA.


Purpose of the website

The purpose of the Kazoku - Family website is to unite and further provide our family members with historical and current information to increase our data of our progenitors so that our progeny will become knowledgeable of past events that may have resulted in the present-day events and perhaps to improve outcomes for the future.  


Disclaimer Policy

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of every item on this website, Kazoku - Family is not legally responsible for anything posted to this site and makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of information contained in such material. The views expressed on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Kazoku - Family. Kazoku - Family is not responsible for, and disclaims any liability in relation to, anything posted by contributors to, or users of, the site. 

 

  Privacy Policy 

Kazoku - Family may collect and use information about you, such as your name and contact information, social media URLs, address, (“Personally Identifiable Information”) as described in this Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

The types of Personally Identifiable Information we collect on this website:  As a member of Kazoku - Family or a non-member guest, you may be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, email address, or any future-distributed identification number.. You may also be asked to provide Personally Identifiable Information in connection with any prizes, scholarship or financial grant applications, contests, raffles, games, and similar future benefits on the website, as well as in connection with registration for conferences and participation in surveys and other activities of Kazoku - Family.

If you purchase any future family products from Kazoku - Family through this website, you will be asked to provide your shipping address and credit card information in addition to the Personally Identifiable Information described above.

Other information we may collect on this website:

As part of our efforts to improve the historical data we share with members of Kazoku - Family, we may collect and analyze certain information that does not allow us to identify a specific individual, such as demographic information, pages visited or types of Internet browsers used to access our website (“Aggregate Information”).

We may use “cookies” and other technologies on our website. “Cookies” are small pieces of information that our server places on a visitor’s computer hard drive to enable that person to more easily communicate and interact with our website and to provide us with important information on how visitors use our website. For example, we may place a cookie on a visitor’s computer when she or he or they visit our website. The next time she or he or they visit our website using the same computer, our computer system will recognize the cookie and the visitor. Many Internet browsers are automatically set to accept cookies. You may change your Internet browser settings to either reject cookies or notify you when a cookie is about to be placed on your computer. Please note, however, that rejecting cookies while visiting our website may result in certain parts of our website not operating correctly or as efficiently as if the cookies were allowed.

What we do with Personally Identifiable Information collected on our Website: We may use Personally Identifiable Information collected on the website to communicate with you regarding new events or services provided to members of Kazoku - Family. We may also use Personally Identifiable Information to complete transactions for the reimbursement or purchase of the making of a family memorabilia or merchandise offered on our website, to register you for reunions, restaurant parties, hotel or resort reservations, and to process other activities family members might initiate through our website.

What we do with Aggregate Information collected on our website:  Aggregate Information we collect on our website may be used in many ways. For example, we may collect and analyze Aggregate Information to determine how many visitors arrived at certain pages of the website, how long they stayed on those pages, and where they went afterward. This information allows us to determine which pages might be the most interesting to our visitors and enables us to provide them with a better and richer experience on our website. Additionally, we may use Aggregate Information to improve the performance of our website and to customize the content and layout of our website pages for the good of all family members.

Please note that certain Aggregate Information may be linked with Personally Identifiable Information. Any such linked information will be treated as Personally Identifiable Information as long as it is so linked.

How we share Personally Identifiable Information and Aggregate Information:

If in the future, Kazoku - Family were to provide a Kazoku - Family product, memorabilia, or service, we might use Third parties to make available certain activities and services on our website. We may share your Personally Identifiable Information with such third parties for the purpose of enabling such third parties to provide such activities, services or products. For example, if you choose to purchase or reimburse expenses to make your product from Kazoku - Family, we may use outside vendors to process your credit card or to process and ship the order to you. In these instances, we would need to provide certain Personally Identifiable Information, such as your credit card information and shipping address, to these vendors.

We reserve the right to share both Personally Identifiable and Aggregate Information with affiliations that are connected to membership with Kazoku - Family. We may also disclose Personally Identifiable Information in order to (a) comply with applicable laws; (b) respond to governmental inquiries or requests; (c) comply with valid legal process; (d) protect the rights, privacy, safety or property of all users of Kazoku - Family; (e) permit us to pursue available remedies or limit the damages that we may sustain; and (f) to enforce our Terms of Use.

What happens if you link to a third-party website from the Kazoku - Family’s website? Our website may contain links to third-party websites. If you link to a third-party website from our website, you will leave our website, and this Privacy Policy will not apply to your use of, and activities on those other websites. Any Personally Identifiable Information you provide while visiting a third party’s website will be collected by and controlled by the privacy policy of that third party. We encourage you to read the legal notices posted on those third-party websites, including their privacy policies.

How we protect the information you provide through the Kazoku - Family website:  Kazoku - Family takes reasonable precautions to safeguard the Personally Identifiable Information you submit through our website and the Personally Identifiable Information stored on our computer systems. We may use Secured Socket Layers encryption for the transmission of data to our computer systems. Unfortunately, no method of transmitting or storing data over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, although we strive to protect your Personally Identifiable Information, we cannot ensure the security of any information you transmit to us through or in connection with our website. If you have reason to believe that the security of any Personally Identifiable Information you have provided to us has been compromised, you must immediately notify us of the problem by contacting us at Julia Yamaoka Thorn, juliathorn.family@gmail.com, 252-286-8533, 5122 Chalk Street, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA.

In the unlikely event that we believe that the security of your Personally Identifiable Information in our possession or control may have been compromised, we may seek to notify you of that development. If a notification is, in our sole discretion, appropriate, we would endeavor to do so as promptly as possible under the circumstances, and, to the extent we have your email address, we may notify you by email.

Please keep in mind that more family members may be added as editors, contributors, and collaborators for Kazoku - Family. This policy is meant to protect those family members, too. Kazoku - Family believes in the good faith effort of all of our family members.

How you can change your Personally Identifiable Information:

  If you want to review, correct or change your Personally Identifiable Information, please contact Kazuko-Family.

Please contact Julia Yamaoka Thorn, juliathorn.family@gmail.com, 252-286-8533, 5122 Chalk Street, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA, if you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, please feel free to contact us.

What rights we reserve to change this Privacy Policy:

Kazoku-Family reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time without notice. By continuing to use our website, you will be deemed to have agreed to such changes. You should periodically review this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy at any time, please do not continue using our website.

 

Terms of Use

 

By using the Kazoku-Family website or social media page, which include but are not limited to the family of regional and local sites, collectively referred to as the "Websites," you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions ("Terms of Use"). This agreement is personal to you; it cannot be assigned or transferred. If any provision of this agreement is invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

1. Your Acceptance

By using and/or visiting any of the Kazoku-Family Websites you signify your agreement to:


If you do not agree to any of these terms or the privacy policy, please do not use Kazoku-Family. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to confer any third-party rights or benefits.

2. Websites

These Terms of Use apply to all users of the Websites*, including users who are contributors of content and other materials or services on the Websites. The term Websites shall be understood to include all aspects and services of the Kazoku-Family websites, including but not limited to all products, software and services offered via any website such as the blogs, groups, clubs, directories, discussion boards, messaging, social and professional networking, photo and video uploading, commentary, mailing lists, and other applications.

The Websites electronically publish news and information that may include facts, views, opinions and recommendations of individuals and organizations deemed of interest to Kazoku-Family members. Kazoku-Family itself does not review, monitor, verify or guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of or otherwise endorse information provided by any organization or individual, give advice or advocate the purchase or sale of any product or service not directly offered by Kazoku-Family or its family and friends.

The Websites may include unmoderated forums containing the personal opinions and other expressions of the persons who post entries on a wide range of topics. The text and other materials on these Websites are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of Kazoku-Family. Unless otherwise noted, the user may infer that commentary comes from Julia Yamaoka Thorn. Unless otherwise instructed, Julia Yamaoka Thorn and Michael Thorn have used textual information from family members, and extrapolated conclusions based on genealogical works of generously contributing family members: Christina Kimiyo Yamaoka Kusaba, Catherine Keiko Fujimori, and Flarinda Llamas Kusaba.

The Websites may contain links to third-party websites that are not owned by, affiliated with or controlled by Kazoku-Family . Kazoku-Family has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites not directly affiliated with Kazoku-Family. In addition, the Websites will not and cannot censor or edit the content of any non-affiliated third-party site. By using the Websites, you expressly release Kazoku-Family from any and all liability arising from your use of any third-party website.

*Examples include but are not limited to: any email powered by Gmail, the Kazoku-Family, networked discussion lists, digital instruments, the Kazoku-Family members on LinkedIn groups, and affiliate clubs or associations or organizations, and Kazoku-Family members' Facebook pages.

3. Your Account

In the future, Kazoku-Family may need to secure some features of the website or Websites with a password protection, you will have to use our Kazoku-Family password which will be announced to you via phone or email address after your identity has been confirmed. By using this password,  you will agree to these Terms of Use and thereby agree to use of the Websites in a manner consistent with all applicable laws and regulations and in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the policies and guidelines outlined here. Please note that you will be referred to as "User" from time to time in this Agreement. In the future, if Kazoku-Family establishes individualized accounts, the User will safeguard his or her password. You may never use another member’s account. Any future individualized User account should not be shared, transferred, or sold to other parties except to your own progeny with whom you have discussed this policy. If you create an account with Kazoku-Family or any of its affiliates, account, you must provide accurate and complete information. You are solely responsible for the activity that occurs on your account, and you should keep your account password secure. You must notify Kazoku-Family immediately of any breach of security or unauthorized use of your account. Although Kazoku-Family will not be liable for your losses caused by any unauthorized use of your account, you may be liable for the losses of Kazoku-Family or others due to such unauthorized use.


ADDITIONAL USER RESTRICTIONS

Users of the Websites who sign up for any future Kazoku-Family services must acknowledge that they are members of Kazoku-Family. A Kazoku-Family member is defined as a qualified person who has current familial membership with Kazoku-Family.  This does not automatically include suspiciously distant members or members whose familial claims appear to be false.  Members may also be granted access to future secured Websites, but if they leave Kazoku-Family, some future access may be revoked by Kazoku-Family. Kazoku-Family members using Kazoku-Family sites are expected to abide by a fundamental standard or standard of conduct which provides: Kazoku-Family members are expected to show both within and outside the Kazoku-Family such respect for order, morality, personal honor and the rights of others as is demanded of good citizens. Failure to do this will be sufficient cause for removal from certain leadership positions or offices of responsibility requiring moral conduct.  

Every future Website generated from this Site reserves the right to define its Kazoku-Family membership at its own discretion.

In addition, you agree to use the content on the Websites that are restricted to Kazoku-Family for your personal use only and do not provide access, in any format, to anyone who is not a member of Kazoku-Family who might have illegal or libelous intent to harm or denegrate our family members. Because our progeny have automatic rights, please instruct them in the bounds of decency that our ancestors and our progenitors have followed throughout time. 

By using any Kazoku-Family digital platform or online tool, you agree to comport yourself respectfully and appropriately in connection with any activity, communication, or digital offering. We welcome all viewpoints as long as the tone of the discussion is respectful. Communications that defame or threaten others or are inciting, bigoted, hateful, or racially offensive are not acceptable.

Prohibited conduct:


Any copyrighted material, including without limitation software, graphics, text, photographs, sound, video, and musical recordings, may not be placed on digital offerings without the express permission of the owner of the copyright of the material, or other legal entitlement to use the material. Any person posting material protected by copyright for the benefit of any third-party represents and warrants consent or permission has been obtained to post such materials. Although Kazoku-Family does not screen or monitor content posted by users to digital offerings, Kazoku-Family reserves the right to remove content that violates the above rules of which it becomes aware.

You may not attempt to use or distribute tools designed for compromising security or take any action to compromise the security of any site. Examples of these tools include but are not limited to password-guessing programs, cracking tools, or network probing tools. You may not "flood" or disrupt the digital offerings through any means or process.

You agree that you will not access or attempt to access any other user’s account, or misrepresent or attempt to misrepresent your identity while using the Websites.

Statements or postings which violate the aforementioned terms will be deleted upon discovery. Kazoku-Family reserves the right to warn, suspend or ban any person from access to constituent resources and events for violation of the above or violation of any of the other Terms of Use that govern usage across all of our digital properties.

If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your Kazoku-Family account, you agree to notify Kazoku-Family and please contact Julia Yamaoka Thorn, juliathorn.family@gmail.com, 252-286-8533, 5122 Chalk Street, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA

Communication contacts provided through the Websites, such as social media, online communities, discussion boards, blogs, messaging, social and professional networking and other services in the future, are a part of the Websites designed for communication to further the mission, goals, and purposes of Kazoku-Family.  Kazoku-Family will not monitor these communications, but reserves the right to take action against any User who defames or harasses another User through any of the services offered through the Websites, if it comes to Kazoku-Family's attention.

6. Disclaimer of Warranty / Limitation of Liability

Kazoku-Family does not warrant that the Websites will operate in an uninterrupted or error-free manner or that the Websites are free of viruses or other harmful components. Use of information obtained from or through these Websites is at your own risk.

YOU AGREE THAT Kazoku-Family WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGES, EITHER ACTUAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OF USE, OR TO YOUR (OR ANY THIRD PARTY'S) USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE WEBSITES, OR TO YOUR PLACEMENT OF CONTENT ON THE WEBSITES, OR TO YOUR RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE WEBSITES, OR YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH ANY ONLINE ALUMNI COMMUNITY. IN PARTICULAR, Kazoku-Family WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR UNFORESEEABLE, (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS FOR DEFAMATION, ERRORS, MISUSE OF EMAIL OR OTHER SERVICES, LOSS OF DATA, OR INTERRUPTION IN AVAILABILITY OF DATA), ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS, YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE A WEBSITE, OR ANY PURCHASES ON THE WEBSITES, OR YOUR PLACEMENT OF CONTENT ON A WEBSITE, OR YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH AN ONLINE REGIONAL OR LOCAL UNIT COMMUNITY OR YOUR RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH A WEBSITE, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STATUTORY OR OTHER LAW, EXCEPT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT APPLICABLE LAW REQUIRES SUCH LIABILITY.

Kazoku-Family makes no representation regarding your ability to transmit and receive information from or through the Websites and you agree and acknowledge that your ability to access the Websites may be impaired. Kazoku-Family disclaims any and all liability resulting from or related to such events. 

7. Choice of Law/Forum Selection

Any Websites networked on Kazoku-Family are based at each creator’s site. You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use or any content posted to a Website, including copies and re-publication thereof, whether based in contract, tort, statutory or other law, will be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina (because of the location of Kazoku-Family's origin), excluding its conflicts of law provisions. You further consent to the personal jurisdiction of and exclusive venue in the federal and state courts located in and serving Carteret County, North Carolina, USA, as the legal forum for any such dispute. This jurisdiction is based on the location of Kazoku-Family's webmaster.

8. Notice

Kazoku-Family may, in its sole discretion, modify or revise these Terms of Use and policies at any time. Notice of any such change or addition will be made within approved interfaces to the Websites and/or by email. By using the Websites after any change or addition is announced, you agree to be bound by all such changes or additions.

If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your Kazoku-Family account, you agree to notify Kazoku-Family, please contact Julia Yamaoka Thorn, juliathorn.family@gmail.com, 252-286-8533, 5122 Chalk Street, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA

9. Termination of Service

User may terminate this Agreement by canceling his or her account. To do this the user must contact Kazoku-Family through phone or mail as listed above.

Kazoku-Family may terminate your account or access rights to the Websites at any time, without notice, for conduct that Kazoku-Family believes violates this Agreement or other policies or guidelines that Kazoku-Family has posted. Kazoku-Family may terminate your account or your access rights to the Websites for online conduct that Kazoku-Family believes is harmful to other Users, to Kazoku-Family's business, or to other information providers.

10. Trademarks

The logo, name and all graphics on the Websites or their affiliates are shared with all members of Kazoku-Family. Use, reproduction, copying or redistribution of trademarks is made available to all Kazoku-Family members and their progeny who adopt the mission, goals, and purposes of Kazoku-Family.  All other trademarks or service marks appearing on the Websites are the marks of our sharing family members.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold Kazoku-Family and progeny harmless from any claims, losses or damages, including legal fees, resulting from your violation of these Terms of Use, your use of the Websites or your placement of any content onto the Websites, and to fully cooperate in Kazoku-Family's defense against any such claims.

12. Copyright License & Complaints

Owners who post materials grant Kazoku-Family a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to reproduce and distribute any content posted on the Websites.

Kazoku-Family respects the intellectual property rights of others and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe your copyright has been violated on the Websites, please provide the following information to the contact information listed under the notice section of this document.

All in all, Kazoku-Family hopes that this Site and any future Websites that might grow from this project will benefit all of our family members to access knowledge and data of our progenitors to understand where we stand today and, perhaps, to improve our progeny's future.


-jyt