Terms of service

1. Scope

These terms apply to the website ikuzojapanese.com and the ikuzo app (in the browser and in the app stores), offered by Manuel Killert, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 27, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany. By creating an account or buying ikuzo Plus you accept them.

2. What ikuzo is

ikuzo is a learning platform for beginner Japanese: lessons, writing practice, a flashcard trainer, a weekly league and an AI tutor (“Sensei”). The content is a learning offer, not a guarantee of results. Sensei is an AI and can make mistakes.

3. Account

You can use ikuzo without an account. Syncing between devices, the league, Sensei and ikuzo Plus require an account with an email address and password. You are responsible for keeping your password secret. You can delete your account at any time in the app.

4. League name

Your league name is visible to other learners. Don’t choose a name that insults, misleads or infringes the rights of others. Anyone can report a name; we may change names or suspend accounts that break this rule.

5. Free use and ikuzo Plus

The core features are free. Sensei, explanations and memory tricks have daily limits. ikuzo Plus removes those limits and includes all future courses.

ikuzo Plus is available as a monthly subscription, a yearly subscription or a one-time purchase (“Lifetime”). The applicable price is shown before you buy. In the browser, payment runs through Stripe; in the apps, through the App Store or Google Play.

6. Contract

Creating an account forms a free contract of use. A paid contract for ikuzo Plus is formed when the payment process is completed.

7. Term and cancellation

Subscriptions renew automatically for the booked period unless you cancel before it ends. You can cancel in the browser via “Manage subscription”, in the iOS app in your Apple ID settings, and in the Android app in Google Play. Access stays until the end of the paid period.

The one-time purchase applies to your account permanently, for as long as ikuzo is operated.

8. Right of withdrawal for consumers

Withdrawal notice

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen days without giving any reason. The period starts on the day the contract is concluded.

To exercise it, you must inform us (Manuel Killert, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 27, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany, lernen@ikuzojapanese.com) of your decision by an unequivocal statement (e.g. an email). Sending the notice before the period expires is sufficient.

Effects of withdrawal: if you withdraw, we will refund all payments without undue delay and no later than fourteen days from the day we receive your notice, using the same means of payment you used; you will not be charged for this.

Early expiry: your right of withdrawal expires early if we have started performance after you expressly agreed that we start before the withdrawal period ends and confirmed that you thereby lose your right of withdrawal (§ 356(5) German Civil Code).

For purchases through the App Store or Google Play, the refund rules of Apple or Google apply in addition.

9. Content and rights

Lessons, texts, recordings and the design of ikuzo are protected by copyright. You may use them for your own learning, not copy, redistribute or use them commercially. Stroke order and kanji data come from KanjiVG and KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA), see the imprint.

10. Your obligations

Don’t use ikuzo to abuse Sensei, circumvent protections, manipulate the league or harass others. We may suspend or delete accounts that do.

11. Availability

We aim for uninterrupted operation but cannot guarantee it. Maintenance and updates can cause short outages. We may develop, replace or discontinue features; if ikuzo Plus is discontinued, we refund paid but unused time proportionally.

12. Liability

We are liable without limitation for intent, gross negligence and damage to life, body or health. For slight negligence we are liable only for breaches of essential contractual duties, limited to the foreseeable, typical damage. Liability under the German Product Liability Act remains unaffected.

13. Changes to these terms

We may change these terms when legal or technical reasons require it or when new features are added. We will inform you of changes that affect you at least four weeks in advance by email or in the app. If you don’t object before they take effect, the new terms apply; we will point this out in the notice.

14. Final provisions

German law applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. For consumers habitually resident in another EU country, mandatory consumer protection rules of that country remain unaffected. If a provision is invalid, the rest remains valid.