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Terms of Service

Effective Date: September 1, 2025

StressTerrace Shodo Academy – Terms of Service

Welcome to StressTerrace Shodo Academy (“the Academy,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By purchasing, accessing, or using any of our courses, materials, or related offerings (collectively, the “Services”), you (“you,” “the participant,” or “the user”) agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). Please read these Terms carefully before enrolling or using the Services.

Your use of the Services constitutes your acceptance of, and agreement to be bound by, these Terms as amended from time to time in accordance with Section 9 below. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Services.

1. Nature of Services

1.1 The Academy provides online courses in Japanese calligraphy (Shodo), framed as a practice of mindfulness, discipline, and lifestyle cultivation. Any reference to mental, emotional, or lifestyle benefits is descriptive of a general educational and self-development intention only.

1.2 The Services are provided solely for educational and self-development purposes. The Academy does not provide, and the Services do not constitute, medical, psychological, psychiatric, counseling, or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

1.3 We do not guarantee any specific outcomes, results, or measurable skill advancement in calligraphy, mindfulness, or any other domain. Any testimonials or examples provided through the Services are illustrative and do not constitute a guarantee or representation that similar results will be achieved by you.

1.4 You acknowledge that participation in the Services is entirely voluntary and that you are solely responsible for your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being in connection with your use of the Services. If you are under any medical or psychological care, you are responsible for consulting with your physician or other qualified professional before participating.

2. Eligibility

2.1 You must be at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, if different) to purchase or access the Services.

2.2 By enrolling in or using the Services, you represent and warrant that:

  • (a) you meet the age requirement above;

  • (b) you have the legal capacity and authority to enter into these Terms; and

  • (c) if you are accessing the Services on behalf of a company, organization, or other legal entity, you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms, in which case “you” will refer to that entity.

3. Payment and Subscription

3.1 Enrollment in the Entrance Course and subsequent access to Foundational and Ongoing Practice, as well as any other paid Services we may offer, requires payment through our designated checkout system or as otherwise expressly permitted by us.

3.2 Unless we expressly state otherwise in writing, all fees (including subscription fees) are:

  • (a) quoted and payable in the currency specified at checkout;

  • (b) charged in advance for the applicable access or subscription period; and

  • (c) non-refundable once paid, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

3.3 You authorize us and our third-party payment processors to charge your chosen payment method for all applicable fees, taxes, and any other charges incurred in connection with your account or use of the Services.

3.4 You are solely responsible for all taxes, duties, and other governmental charges associated with your purchases, except for taxes based on our net income, if any.

3.5 We may change our prices and subscription plans from time to time in our discretion. Any changes will apply prospectively and, where required by law, we will provide prior notice. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of any pricing change constitutes your acceptance of the updated fees.

3.6 You are solely responsible for maintaining the necessary equipment, internet access, compatible devices, software, and communication services required to access and use the Services. The Academy shall not be responsible for any limitations, charges, failures, or interruptions arising from your personal environment, hardware, software, or service providers.

4. Service Modification; Suspension and Termination

4.1 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we may, in our sole discretion, modify, suspend, or permanently discontinue the Services, in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason or no reason, including for operational, technical, business, legal, security, or compliance considerations.

4.2 Where reasonably practicable, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide you with at least one (1) month’s advance notice of a permanent discontinuation of the Services (for example, by posting a notice on our website or by sending an email to the address associated with your account). However, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • (a) such advance notice may not always be possible (including, without limitation, for security, legal, compliance, or technical reasons); and

  • (b) we shall have no liability to you arising from or relating to any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Services, whether or not advance notice is provided.

4.3 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you further acknowledge and agree that:

  • (a) all fees, including any subscription fees, are fully earned upon payment; and

  • (b) we will not be obligated to refund, credit, or prorate any amounts already paid by you under any circumstances, including in connection with any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Services or any portion thereof, regardless of the remaining subscription period or your actual use of the Services.

4.4 We may, in our sole discretion and without liability to you, immediately suspend or terminate your access to the Services (in whole or in part), with or without notice, if we believe that:

  • (a) you have breached these Terms or any applicable law or regulation;

  • (b) your conduct may cause harm, risk, or liability to us, other users, or third parties; or

  • (c) it is necessary for security, legal, or compliance reasons.

5. Cancellation and Refunds

5.1 Unless we expressly state otherwise in writing, all purchases of the Services are final. Due to the digital and experiential nature of our courses and materials, we do not provide refunds once a purchase is made, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

5.2 You may cancel a subscription at any time through the method we make available (for example, through your account settings or via the applicable payment platform). Cancellation will stop future billing after the effective date of cancellation but will not entitle you to any refund, credit, or proration of fees already paid.

5.3 To avoid being charged for the next subscription period, you must complete cancellation before the applicable renewal date indicated in your account or by the payment platform. We are not responsible for any failure by you to cancel in a timely manner.

5.4 The non-refundability of fees set out in this Section 5 is in addition to, and not in limitation of, the non-refundability provisions in Sections 3 and 4.

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 All content provided by the Academy, including without limitation videos, live or recorded sessions, texts, images, graphics, audio, course materials, exercises, documentation, logos, trademarks, and all other content, data, and materials (collectively, the “Content”), together with all associated intellectual property rights, are and shall remain the exclusive property of StressTerrace Shodo Academy and/or its licensors.

6.2 Subject to your full and ongoing compliance with these Terms and payment of all applicable fees, we grant you a personal, limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, and revocable license to access and use the Content solely for your own individual, non-commercial educational use in connection with the Services.

6.3 Except as expressly permitted in these Terms or by us in writing, you shall not, and shall not permit any third party to:

  • (a) copy, reproduce, record, download, distribute, transmit, publish, display, sell, license, modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from, or otherwise exploit the Content in any form or by any means;

  • (b) share your account, login credentials, or access to the Content with any other person;

  • (c) remove, alter, or obscure any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices on or in the Content; or

  • (d) use any automated system (including robots, spiders, or scrapers) to access the Services or Content.

6.4 Any rights not expressly granted to you under these Terms are reserved by the Academy and its licensors.

7. Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties

7.1 The Services and Content are provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

7.2 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we expressly disclaim all warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, quiet enjoyment, and any warranties arising out of course of dealing, usage, or trade.

7.3 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we do not warrant or represent that:

  • (a) the Services or Content will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free;

  • (b) any defects or errors will be corrected;

  • (c) the Services or Content will be compatible with your devices, software, or network; or

  • (d) the Services or Content will meet your expectations or provide any particular result, benefit, or level of performance (including any specific improvement in calligraphy skill, mindfulness, or mental state).

7.4 Participation in and use of the Services are at your own risk. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Academy shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages of any kind (including, but not limited to, loss of profits, loss of data, loss of goodwill, business interruption, or personal or psychological injury) arising out of or relating to:

  • (a) your access to or use of, or inability to access or use, the Services or Content;

  • (b) any conduct or content of any user or third party;

  • (c) any unauthorized access to, use of, or alteration of your transmissions or data; or

  • (d) any other matter relating to the Services or these Terms,
    whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or any other legal theory, and whether or not we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

7.5 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, our total aggregate liability arising out of or relating to the Services and these Terms shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the amount of fees actually paid by you to the Academy for the Services giving rise to the claim during the six (6) month period immediately preceding the event giving rise to such liability.

7.6 Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages or implied warranties. In such jurisdictions, the above exclusions and limitations shall apply only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

7.7 No claim of mental health treatment, cure, diagnosis, or prevention is made or implied. The Services are not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or psychiatric care. If you experience distress or require assistance, you should seek help from a qualified professional.

8. Governing Law; Exclusive Jurisdiction; Waiver of Non-Japanese Claims

8.1 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, these Terms and any dispute, claim, or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or to the Services (collectively, “Disputes”) are governed exclusively by the laws of Japan, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

8.2 You irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of Japan, with the Tokyo District Court as the court of first instance, for all Disputes. You irrevocably waive:

  • (a) any objection to the jurisdiction of the courts of Japan and to venue therein, including any objection based on forum non conveniens; and

  • (b) any right to bring, assert, or participate in any claim, cause of action, or proceeding in any court, tribunal, or forum outside Japan in connection with any Dispute.

8.3 Nothing in this Section shall be construed as a waiver by us of any right, remedy, or defense available to us under Japanese law.

9. Amendments

9.1 We may update, modify, or replace these Terms from time to time in our discretion, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. When we make material changes, we will take reasonable steps to notify you, which may include posting the updated Terms on our website and/or sending an email to the address associated with your account.

9.2 Unless otherwise specified in the updated Terms, the revised Terms will become effective upon posting. Your continued access to or use of the Services after the effective date of the revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of and agreement to be bound by the revised Terms.

9.3 If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Services immediately and, if applicable, cancel your subscription in accordance with Section 5.

10. No Waiver; Reservation of Rights

10.1 No failure or delay by us in exercising any right, power, or remedy under these Terms shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy.

10.2 Any waiver by us of any provision of these Terms or any breach thereof must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the Academy, and shall not be deemed a waiver of any other provision or of any subsequent breach.

10.3 We expressly reserve all rights, remedies, and defenses available to us under Japanese law and these Terms.

11. Severability & Interpretation

11.1 If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

11.2 Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. To the maximum extent permitted by law, these Terms shall be interpreted and enforced in a manner that protects our rights and limits our liability as set forth herein.

11.3 In the event of any ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation, these Terms shall be construed as drafted by us, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring either party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of these Terms.

12. Entire Agreement

12.1 These Terms, together with any additional terms or policies referenced in or incorporated into these Terms (including any course-specific guidelines or platform policies that we may publish), constitute the entire agreement between you and the Academy with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings, communications, and agreements, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter.

12.2 In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between these Terms and any other documents or communications, these Terms shall prevail to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, unless we expressly agree in a written document signed by an authorized representative of the Academy that a different document will control.