Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

TSUBA.INFO – Japanese Swords & Sword Fittings

Last updated: November 2, 2026

Part I – Terms and Conditions

1. General Provisions

Welcome to TSUBA.INFO.

These Terms and Conditions govern the use of the website https://tsuba.info and the products and services offered by TSUBA.INFO.

TSUBA.INFO is operated by [Full legal name of operator], based in Japan.

By placing an order, submitting a service request, registering for an examination service, or otherwise entering into a transaction with TSUBA.INFO, customers agree to the applicable provisions of these Terms and Conditions.

Additional terms may apply to individual transactions or services where separately communicated and accepted.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by Japanese law, subject to applicable mandatory consumer protection laws and other statutory requirements.

2. Website Content and Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, TSUBA.INFO or its licensors own or hold the necessary rights to the photographs, texts, descriptions, graphics, research materials, and other content published on this website.

Visitors may access and view website content for personal and non-commercial purposes.

Without prior permission, visitors may not reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, commercially exploit, or otherwise use protected website content beyond what is permitted by applicable law.

Linking to publicly accessible pages of TSUBA.INFO is generally permitted, provided that the link is lawful, non-deceptive, and does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation.

Framing or embedding website content in a manner that misrepresents its origin or presentation requires prior authorization.

3. Customer-Submitted Images and Usage Rights

3.1 Scope of the Image License

TSUBA.INFO regularly receives photographs and other visual materials from customers in connection with Japanese swords, sword fittings, and related works of art.

This section applies to photographs, scans, videos, illustrations, and other visual materials provided in connection with:

Purchases, sales, consignments, and auction transactions.
Product inquiries and requests for identification or appraisal.
NBTHK Shinsa registrations and other certification services.
Research, authentication, and documentation inquiries.
Correspondence concerning Japanese swords, sword fittings, and related objects.
Other services provided by TSUBA.INFO.

Materials may be submitted through website forms, email, messaging applications, file transfers, or other communication channels.

The license described below applies where the customer has expressly accepted these Terms and Conditions or otherwise validly agreed to the relevant image usage provisions.

3.2 Grant of Image Usage License

By submitting visual materials and agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, the customer grants TSUBA.INFO a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, transferable, and sublicensable license, irrevocable to the extent permitted by applicable law, to use the submitted materials for lawful business, commercial, educational, historical, documentary, research, and publication purposes.

This license includes the right to:

Store, archive, digitize, reproduce, and catalog the materials.
Edit, crop, resize, enhance, annotate, and adapt the materials.
Reproduce and publish the materials in books, magazines, research papers, academic publications, exhibition catalogs, sales catalogs, and auction catalogs.
Publish the materials on websites, online databases, social media platforms, and other digital services.
Use the materials in educational resources, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions.
Incorporate the materials into commercial and non-commercial research projects, reference collections, and comparative databases.
Permit publishers, researchers, collaborators, service providers, and other authorized third parties to use the materials for purposes covered by this license.

The license includes commercial use and publication in materials offered for sale.

It applies to projects and publications developed after the original submission, transaction, or service has been completed.

3.3 Research, Education, and Reference Databases

The customer expressly acknowledges and agrees that submitted photographs and other visual materials may be retained and used as reference materials for the study, identification, authentication, comparison, and documentation of Japanese swords, sword fittings, signatures, inscriptions, and related works of art.

Such uses expressly include:

Photographs of complete swords, sword fittings, mountings, and individual components.
Photographs of sword tangs (nakago), signatures (mei), inscriptions, file marks (yasurime), and other workmanship details.
Photographs of genuine signatures (shōshin-mei).
Photographs of suspected or confirmed false signatures (gimei).
Photographs of altered, questionable, disputed, or unidentified signatures.
Comparative studies illustrating differences between authentic, questionable, and falsely attributed works.
Reference materials intended to assist collectors, researchers, dealers, and other interested persons in identifying and evaluating Japanese swords and sword fittings.

These materials may be made publicly accessible through TSUBA.INFO, Nihonto Atlas, associated research platforms, online databases, and other digital or printed publications.

The customer acknowledges that such publications may include examples of objects or signatures considered genuine, questionable, incorrectly attributed, altered, or false.

TSUBA.INFO may publish these materials for educational and comparative purposes without seeking separate approval for each publication, provided that the use falls within the agreed license and complies with applicable law.

The publication of an object or signature as a research example does not necessarily constitute a definitive determination of authenticity.

Attributions and scholarly assessments may change as additional evidence becomes available.

3.4 Future Use and Archiving

Submitted materials may be retained in research and reference archives for future use.

The customer acknowledges that materials submitted for an individual inquiry, sale, or examination may subsequently be used in research projects, educational publications, reference databases, or other publications that did not exist at the time of submission.

Such use may continue after completion, cancellation, or termination of the original transaction or service, subject to applicable law.

No additional permission or compensation is required for uses already authorized under this license.

3.5 Copyright Ownership and Customer Warranties

The customer represents that they own the necessary rights or have obtained the permissions required to grant the license described in this section.

The customer must not knowingly submit materials in violation of third-party copyright, confidentiality obligations, privacy rights, or other applicable rights.

Where the customer does not own the relevant rights, the license applies only to the extent that the customer is legally authorized to grant them.

The license does not transfer copyright ownership to TSUBA.INFO.

3.6 Attribution, Editing, and Compensation

Unless separately agreed in writing, TSUBA.INFO is not contractually required to provide compensation or seek further approval for uses authorized under this license.

Customer attribution is not required under this agreement, except where applicable law or the rights of another copyright holder require otherwise.

The customer agrees, to the extent legally permissible, not to assert their own moral rights in a manner that would prevent the editing, cropping, annotation, adaptation, or publication authorized under this license.

Nothing in this provision extinguishes rights that cannot lawfully be waived or restricts the rights of third parties.

3.7 Protection of Personal Information

The image usage license does not authorize publication of customers’ personal information.

TSUBA.INFO will not publish customer names, postal addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, private correspondence, personal identifiers, or other personal information under this license.

The license is intended to cover images of objects and their relevant historical, artistic, and technical characteristics, not the identity of the customer who submitted them.

Where submitted photographs or documents contain personal information, TSUBA.INFO may crop, redact, obscure, or otherwise remove identifying information before publication.

Images containing identifiable individuals, identifying metadata, or information that could reasonably identify a customer will not be published under this license unless the relevant personal information has been appropriately removed or another lawful authorization exists.

Photographs of NBTHK certificates, Torokusho documents, and other supporting materials may be used for research or publication only after relevant personal information has been removed and other applicable rights and confidentiality requirements have been considered.

3.8 Limitations of the License

The rights described in this section are subject to applicable copyright, privacy, consumer protection, and other mandatory laws.

The license does not authorize unlawful disclosures, misleading statements presented as established facts, or infringement of third-party rights.

The publication of research findings or authenticity assessments remains subject to applicable legal requirements.

4. Products, Descriptions, and Authenticity

TSUBA.INFO specializes in Japanese swords, sword fittings, and related works of art.

We make reasonable efforts to provide accurate product descriptions, photographs, measurements, historical information, and attributions.

However, the attribution, dating, authenticity, provenance, and classification of historical objects may involve professional judgment and scholarly uncertainty.

Unless expressly guaranteed in writing, descriptions and attributions represent our assessment based on the information available at the time.

Third-party organizations, including the NBTHK, may reach conclusions that differ from those expressed in our descriptions.

A different attribution or certification result does not automatically establish that an item was misrepresented.

If a certificate supplied with an item is established to be forged or falsified, customers should notify TSUBA.INFO promptly. Claims made within one year after shipment will be reviewed for an appropriate remedy, which may include return and refund where justified by the circumstances. This provision does not limit mandatory statutory rights.

Photographs may not reproduce the exact colors, textures, patina, or appearance of an item under all viewing conditions.

All products are subject to availability. We reserve the right to correct listing errors and withdraw products before a binding sale is concluded, subject to applicable law.

5. Orders and Payments

TSUBA.INFO may accept payment through bank transfer, PayPal, supported credit card processors, or other individually agreed methods.

Customers agree to provide accurate billing, shipping, and contact information.

Prices are stated in the currency indicated at the time of purchase.

Applicable taxes, shipping charges, import duties, and other expenses may be charged separately where appropriate.

Customers agree to pay the charges applicable to their confirmed orders.

An order becomes binding in accordance with the acceptance terms communicated during the transaction.

We reserve the right to decline orders before a binding contract has been formed, where legally permitted.

Pricing errors and administrative mistakes will be addressed in accordance with applicable law.

6. Shipping, Export, and Import

Items may be shipped through EMS, DHL, FedEx, Japan Post, or other suitable carriers.

Shipping methods, insurance arrangements, and estimated delivery times depend on the destination, item, regulatory requirements, and agreement with the customer.

Japanese swords and certain cultural objects may require registration documents, export permits, customs procedures, or other administrative approvals.

Such requirements may delay shipment.

Customers are responsible for providing accurate import information and complying with the applicable laws of the destination country.

Unless otherwise agreed, import duties, taxes, and customs-related charges imposed by the destination country are the customer’s responsibility.

Responsibility for loss, damage, or delay during transportation is determined by the applicable agreement and mandatory law.

TSUBA.INFO does not exclude liability where such exclusion is prohibited by law.

7. Returns and Refunds

Many products offered by TSUBA.INFO are unique antiques, collectibles, or individually sourced works of art.

Returns and cancellations may therefore be subject to the conditions communicated for the relevant transaction.

Customers should contact TSUBA.INFO before returning any item.

Any agreed return must comply with the applicable return instructions and conditions.

Nothing in this section excludes or restricts mandatory consumer rights or statutory remedies.

8. NBTHK Shinsa and Certification Services

TSUBA.INFO may assist customers with submitting Japanese swords, sword fittings, and related objects for examination by the NBTHK or other relevant organizations.

Acceptance of a registration request does not guarantee acceptance by the examining organization or the issuance of a certificate.

Examination and certification decisions are made independently by the relevant organization.

TSUBA.INFO may recommend against submission or decline a request where an item appears unsuitable, ineligible, insufficiently documented, or otherwise problematic.

8.1 Fees and Estimates

Estimated examination costs displayed during registration are based on the applicable published fee information and the selected examination type.

Where indicated, estimates reflect the fees applicable if an item successfully passes the requested examination.

Estimated costs are not necessarily final charges.

Unless expressly included, estimates exclude shipping, handling, storage, customs procedures, export/import documentation, and other additional services.

Fees for unsuccessful examinations or other administrative charges may apply where specified in the relevant service agreement or fee schedule.

Customers are responsible for charges validly agreed for their submission.

8.2 Customer Documentation

Customers must provide accurate item descriptions, photographs, certificates, registration details, and other required information.

Incomplete or inaccurate submissions may delay processing or result in a request for additional information.

8.3 Examination Results

TSUBA.INFO does not guarantee any particular examination result.

The examining organization’s conclusions may differ from the customer’s expectations or from preliminary assessments.

9. Handling and Storage of Customer Property

TSUBA.INFO takes reasonable care when receiving, handling, documenting, storing, and arranging the transportation of customer property.

Japanese swords and antique fittings may be vulnerable to corrosion, deterioration, environmental changes, or accidental damage.

Customers should disclose known condition issues and any special handling requirements.

Responsibility for loss, theft, damage, deterioration, or related risks is determined by the circumstances, the applicable agreement, and mandatory law.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for intentional misconduct, gross negligence where exclusion is prohibited, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded.

10. Customer Communications and Records

Customers agree to provide accurate information in orders, registration forms, and other service requests.

TSUBA.INFO may communicate by email or other agreed methods regarding registration verification, service updates, requests for corrections, examination results, payment, shipping, and related matters.

Customers should ensure that their contact information remains current.

Business correspondence and transaction documentation may be retained for legitimate administrative, accounting, legal, research, and documentation purposes, subject to the Privacy Policy and applicable law.

11. External Websites and Third-Party Services

Our website may contain links to external websites.

We are not responsible for the independent content or privacy practices of third-party websites, except as required by applicable law.

We may use external providers for hosting, payments, email delivery, shipping, technical maintenance, and other operational functions.

12. Website Availability and Disclaimer

We make reasonable efforts to maintain accurate and useful website content.

However, we do not guarantee uninterrupted availability or that all historical, scholarly, or descriptive information is free from error.

Information on this website is provided for general reference and should be considered in its proper context.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including liability for fraud, intentional misconduct, or other protected claims.

13. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by Japanese law, subject to applicable mandatory legal protections.

Any disputes will be handled in accordance with the applicable jurisdictional rules and legal requirements.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms and Conditions periodically.

The updated version will be published on this website with its revision date.

Changes do not automatically create new licenses for materials submitted before the relevant terms were validly accepted.

Existing transactions and previously granted rights remain subject to the terms and laws applicable to them.

15. Contact

For questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact TSUBA.INFO through the contact details published on our website.

Part II – Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

TSUBA.INFO respects the privacy of customers, website visitors, and individuals who communicate with us.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect personal information in connection with our website, business transactions, research activities, and services.

The operator responsible for personal information is:

Operator: [Full legal name]

Business address: [Business contact address]

Privacy contact: [Email address]

This policy applies to personal information collected through our website and, where relevant, through email, messaging services, direct transactions, and other business communications.

2. Personal Information We Collect

Depending on the transaction or service, we may collect:

Names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and postal addresses.
Billing, payment, order, and shipping information.
Purchase, sale, consignment, and transaction histories.
Product inquiries and service requests.
Descriptions and photographs of Japanese swords, sword fittings, and related objects.
NBTHK Shinsa registration information and examination results.
Torokusho documents, certificates, and other supporting records.
Correspondence and customer service communications.
Technical information, including IP addresses, browser details, access logs, and cookies.

Payment card information may be processed directly by external payment service providers rather than stored by TSUBA.INFO.

3. Purposes of Processing

We collect and process personal information for the following purposes:

Processing purchases, sales, consignments, and other transactions.
Managing NBTHK Shinsa applications and certification services.
Communicating with customers about inquiries, orders, and service requests.
Verifying and documenting submitted objects.
Arranging shipping, customs, export, and import procedures.
Maintaining transaction histories, accounting records, and business documentation.
Providing customer support and resolving disputes.
Preventing fraud, unauthorized access, and misuse of our services.
Complying with legal, tax, accounting, and regulatory obligations.
Maintaining appropriate historical, technical, and research documentation.

Where permitted by law, we may use non-personal or appropriately anonymized information for research, education, and publication.

The use of submitted photographs is additionally governed by the applicable image usage license or other authorization.

4. Customer Photographs and Uploaded Documents

Customers may provide photographs, certificates, registration documents, and other materials through our website or by direct communication.

These materials may be stored as part of customer records, transaction histories, service requests, or research documentation.

Submitted photographs may also be retained for research and reference purposes where a valid image usage license or other legal authorization exists.

We do not publish customers’ personal information as part of our image research and publication activities.

Photographs of swords, fittings, signatures, and other object details may be used for scholarly comparison, authentication research, education, and publication under the applicable license.

Before publication, identifying information will be removed or obscured where necessary.

Documents containing personal information will not be publicly disclosed under the image license.

5. Applicable Privacy Laws and Legal Bases

We process personal information in accordance with applicable Japanese privacy legislation, including the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI).

Where the European Union or United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation applies to particular processing activities, we rely on an appropriate lawful basis, which may include:

Performance of a contract or steps taken before entering into a contract.
Compliance with legal obligations.
Legitimate interests, where permitted and appropriately balanced against individual rights.
Consent, where required.

The applicable legal basis depends on the nature of the processing.

6. Sharing Information with Third Parties

Where necessary for legitimate business purposes, personal information may be shared with:

Certification and examination organizations, including the NBTHK.
Shipping companies, postal services, and logistics providers.
Customs authorities and export/import agents.
Payment processors and financial institutions.
Website hosting, email, and technical service providers.
Professional advisers and contractors.
Public authorities where legally required.

Such disclosures are subject to applicable privacy laws and any relevant requirements concerning outsourcing, third-party provision, and international transfers.

We do not sell customer personal information to advertisers.

7. International Data Transfers

TSUBA.INFO serves customers internationally.

Personal information may therefore be processed or transferred across national borders where necessary for transactions, shipping, examinations, or technical services.

Where applicable law imposes specific requirements for international transfers, we will follow the relevant procedures and safeguards.

8. Cookies and Website Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support:

Essential website functions.
Shopping carts and checkout processes.
Security and session management.
User preferences.
Registration and service request workflows.
Website analytics, where enabled.

Where non-essential cookies or tracking technologies are used, we will provide appropriate information and choices where required by law.

Visitors may restrict or delete cookies through their browser settings, although some website features may not function correctly without necessary cookies.

9. Server Logs

Our website and hosting infrastructure may collect technical information such as:

IP addresses.
Browser and device information.
Dates and times of access.
Requested pages and resources.
Referring websites.
Technical errors and security events.

This information may be used for website administration, troubleshooting, security, and service improvement.

Technical information may constitute personal information depending on the circumstances and applicable law.

10. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse.

Such measures may include access restrictions, appropriate file permissions, software maintenance, and administrative security procedures.

Customer-uploaded documents and photographs are not intended to be publicly accessible merely because they have been uploaded.

No electronic storage or transmission system can be guaranteed completely secure.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy and for applicable legal, accounting, administrative, and dispute-resolution requirements.

Retention periods depend on the type of information and the circumstances.

Where information is no longer required, it will be deleted, anonymized, or otherwise handled appropriately in accordance with applicable law.

Photographs and other non-personal reference materials may be retained for long-term research and documentation under a valid image license.

The retention of such materials does not authorize indefinite retention or publication of personal information without an appropriate legal basis.

12. Individual Privacy Rights

Depending on applicable law, individuals may have rights to request:

Access to personal information held about them.
Correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
Deletion or cessation of certain processing.
Information regarding certain third-party disclosures.
Withdrawal of consent where processing relies on consent.
Other rights provided by applicable privacy legislation.

Requests may be submitted through the privacy contact details listed above.

We may request appropriate identity verification before responding to certain requests.

Applicable legal obligations and other lawful grounds may limit the extent to which a request can be fulfilled.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our products and services are not specifically directed at children.

We do not knowingly solicit personal informa