Privacy

Japan Almanac does not use tracking pixels or tracking cookies. Reckless Hearts uses browser storage for drafts and viewing progress, and a necessary sign-in cookie for accounts.

Analytics browser mode

Our aggregate analytics can separate your testing from the audience. Owner/test mode is an explicit browser preference, not an identity check or access permission. Set it separately in each personal or AI browser profile and device. No flag is shared between profiles.

This browser is Audience.

Owner/test mode stores one boolean locally and displays a reversible badge. It creates no visitor ID. GPC/DNT and development/private-page exclusions still apply in either mode. To exclude collection entirely, use GPC/DNT or ?analytics=off.

Japan Almanac newsletter

If you submit our newsletter signup form, your email address, signup consent and campaign parameters from the page URL are sent to Buttondown to manage your subscription. The campaign parameters identify the platform and episode or bio link you followed. Reading the free guide does not require a subscription.

Buttondown handles subscription confirmation, email delivery and unsubscribe requests. You can unsubscribe through the link in a newsletter email. See Buttondown’s privacy policy for its data practices. Campaign parameters are read on the signup page; Japan Almanac does not save them in browser cookies or local storage.

Google sign-in

Photo character creation requires a Google account. We receive your name, email address, verified-email status and a stable Google identifier to recognize your account. We do not request access to Gmail, Google Drive or Google Photos. We do not receive or store your Google password. Your sign-in session lasts up to 30 days unless you sign out sooner.

Photos and character artwork

Upload only your own photos or photos you have permission to use. Original photos and crops are private to your account. When you request a character or image edit, the selected references and approved artwork are sent to Google's Gemini image service to produce that proposal. Uploading or naming a photo alone does not request image generation.

Source photos expire after 30 days. You can delete a source photo and its crops sooner in the character studio. Source photos and photo thumbnails are excluded from our backups. Deleting a source photo does not delete approved illustrations or characters already included in a series.

Saved characters and series

Your reusable characters, unfinished drafts and created-series list belong to your account. A series contains a snapshot of its cast, so later character edits do not change it. Anyone with its PIN can watch the series and see its approved illustrations. Approved simulation artwork is served through public asset URLs; source photos and character-editing access are not included with a viewing PIN.

We retain account records, character definitions, approved artwork and series so you can return to them. Private backups keep seven daily copies and exclude active sign-in sessions and temporary authorization records. Signing out clears private studio caches on that browser; local viewing progress may remain.