Privacy Policy

15-1, Kyobashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative of Ajinomoto Co., Inc.:
Representative Executive Officer & President
described here

In accordance with the “Group Shared Policy on Privacy,” we strive to properly handle Personal Information as follows.

1.Treatment of Personal Information Acquired by Us

We will use Personal Information of our customers, business partners, shareholders, employees and other persons with whom we have relationships (“stakeholders”) in accordance with the following purposes of use, and will not use it for any other purposes.

  • Purpose of use announced to stakeholders when providing Personal Information, etc.

  • Purpose of use announced on our website, etc., including this privacy policy (hereinafter referred to as “Privacy Policy”)

(1)―1 Personal Information to be Acquired and Purpose of Use

Personal Information held by us and its purpose of use are as follows. In this Privacy Policy, “Our Products and Services” refers to products and services in the Ajinomoto Group’s food products and amino science businesses.

※ Please also confirm here the joint use of Personal Information.

1)Personal Information on customers, etc.

Personal InformationPurpose of Use

Personal Information on users of our membership web service (hereinafter referred to as “Target Services” in this table)

  • Provision and management of the Target Services
  • Various information regarding the Targeted Services
  • Introduction to campaigns, event information, etc.
  • Questionnaires, surveys, and other requests for cooperation
  • Sending and offering prizes and rewards for campaigns, surveys, etc.
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services
  • Compilation and analysis of statistical data for use in the development and marketing of Our Products and Services
  • Following matters through analysis of users’ browsing history, purchase history, etc. in the Target Services
    1. Improvement and convenience of Target Services
    2. Presentation of content in accordance with the interests and interests of the user concerned, and information on Our Products and Services
    3. Distribution of ads for Our Products and Services outside the Target Services and measurement of advertising effectiveness in response to the interests and interests of the user
  • Response to user requests, inquiries, etc.

Personal Information on users of the various websites operated by us (excluding the membership web services described above, hereafter referred to as “Target Websites” in this table)

  • Following matters through analysis of users’ browsing history, etc. at the Target Websites
    1. Improvement and enhancement of convenience of the Target Websites
    2. Presentation of content in accordance with the interests and interests of the user concerned, and information on Our Products and Services
    3. Distribution of ads on Our Products and Services outside the Target Websites and measurement of advertising effectiveness in response to the interests and interests of the user
  • Response to user requests, inquiries, etc.r
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services

Personal Information about applicants for campaigns, surveys, contests, etc.

  • Implementation of lottery and selection
  • Announcement of lottery/selection results
  • Dispatch and provide of prizes, etc.
  • Response to inquiries from applicants
  • Various communication related to the above
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services

Personal Information on monitors to whom we request to evaluate Our Products and Services (including those in R&D)

  • Implementation of evaluations of Our Products and Services
  • Sending and offering rewards
  • Various communication related to the above
  • R&D and advertising for our products and services

Personal Information on purchasers by mail-order purchases, etc.

  • Ordering, shipping, payment settlement, and responding to inquiries about Our Products and Services
  • Various communication related to the above
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services
  • Introduction to campaigns, event information, etc.
  • Questionnaires, surveys, and other requests for cooperation
  • Sending and offering prizes and rewards for campaigns, surveys, etc.
  • Compilation and analysis of statistical data for use in the development and marketing of Our Products and Services
  • In the case of mail-orders purchases via the Internet, the following matters through analysis of the browsing history, purchasing history, etc. of the purchaser on the mail-order website
    1. Improvement and enhancement of convenience of the relevant mail order site
    2. Display of contents in accordance with the interests and concerns of the purchaser, and introduction on Our Products and Services
    3. Display of advertisements related to Our Products and Services in accordance with the interests and concerns of the purchaser, etc. outside the relevant mail order website, and measurement of advertising effectiveness

Personal information on those who have sent to us opinions, inquiries, consultations, and suggestions regarding Our Products and Services

  • Response to opinions, inquiries, consultations, suggestions, etc.
  • Request for cooperation in the satisfaction questionnaire on the above responses, etc.

Personal Information on participants in events sponsored and co-sponsored by us (including plant tours and events held outside our facilities), seminars, etc.

  • Implementation of such events, seminars, etc.
  • Responses to inquiries related to such events, seminars, etc., and various communication on them
  • Requests for cooperation of questionnaires on such events, seminars, etc. and study for improvement
  • Questionnaires, surveys, and other requests for cooperation regarding Our Products and Services
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services

Personal Information on persons who have requested our materials, etc.

  • Shipping of materials and related actions
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services

2)Personal Information on business partners, alliances, etc.

Personal InformationPurpose of Use

Personal Information on employees and directors of business partners, alliance partners, etc. (including those candidates)

  • Providing information about us
  • Provision of information on the content, quality, safety, effectiveness, and proper use of Our Products and Services
  • Introduction and sales promotion of Our Products and Services
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services
  • Fulfillment of obligations and exercise of rights with respect to transactions
  • Collection of information necessary for business operations, greetings, liaison, guidance, etc.

3)Personal Information about recruited applicants, internships, and retirees

Personal InformationPurpose of Use

Personal Information on applicants for employment and applicants for internship

  • Examination, decision, response to inquiries, etc. of acceptance or rejection
  • Verification and analysis of recruitment activities and reference for future planning and managements
  • Reference for verification and analysis of internship activities and future planning and management
  • Communications and administrative procedures related to the above

Personal information on internships

  • Implementation of internships
  • Communications related to implementation of internships, and operations with respect to equipment and facility management
  • Operations with respect to labor management
  • Operations with respect to training
  • Operations related to health and safety, health management, etc.
  • Operations related to the above

Personal Information on retirees

  • Payment of retirement pension, etc.
  • Necessary communications, such as information on OB Meetings
  • Provision of information on the status of the company
  • Fulfillment and communication of labor-related laws and regulations
  • Operations related to the above

4)Personal Information on officers, employees, etc.

Personal InformationPurpose of Use

Personal Information on our officers, employees (including non-regular employees and part-time employees) and their families

  • Operations with respect to business communications, and equipment and facility management
  • Operations with respect to personnel and labor management
  • Operations with respect to wages, bonuses, retirement allowances, corporate pensions, benefit, etc.
  • Operations pertaining to training
  • Operations related to safety, health, health management, etc.
  • Operations based on laws and regulations such as employment insurance, social insurance, tax and social security, etc.
  • Operations with respect to the Shareholding Association
  • Operations related to the above

Personal Information on temporary staff

  • Operations with respect to business communications and equipment and facility management
  • Operations with respect to labor management
  • Operations related to health and safety, health management, etc.
  • Operations related to the above

Personal Information on employees of the Ajinomoto Group companies

  • Business communications
  • Operations with respect to personnel and labor management

5)Personal Information about shareholders and investors

Personal InformationPurpose of Use

Personal Information about shareholders and investors

  • Exercise of rights and fulfillment of obligations under the Companies Act
  • Delivery and communication of shareholder newsletters, shareholder benefits and other distributions
  • Sending and providing questionnaires, surveys, and other requests for cooperation, as well as rewards
  • Management of shareholder, such as the preparation of shareholder data based on prescribed standards based on various laws and regulations
  • Implementation of shareholder services and improvement studies
  • Provision and communication of various information on the Ajinomoto Group
  • Operations related to the above

6)Other Personal Information

Personal InformationPurpose of Use

Personal Information with respect to those who make claims and complaints

  • Response to claims and complaints, etc. and investigation necessary for response
  • Identification of principal/agent
  • Sending responses and necessary communications

Personal Information on visitors (including information on the subjects on security cameras)

  • Identification of the person who visited us
  • Maintenance of the safety of our facilities

Personal Information about residents in the vicinity of our facilities

  • Necessary communications in emergency, etc.
  • Exchange and communication of necessary information

Personal Information on the members of organizations to which we are a party or a sponsor or other external organizations

  • Necessary communication for operations of such organizations
  • Study of possibility of cooperation with us, etc.

Personal Information on the cooperators in nutrition support, clinical trials, and other research

  • Implementation of nutrition support, clinical trials and other research, and subsequent communications
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services

Personal Information acquired from public information and also the list publicly distributed, etc.

  • Review of the possibility of partnerships with us and related communications
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services

(1)―2 Individual Number and Specific Personal Information to be Acquired and Purpose of Use

Individual Numbers and Specific Personal Information held by us and their purpose of use are as follows.

Individual Numbers and Items of Specific Personal InformationPurpose of Use

Individual Numbers of shareholders

  • Execution of administrative work related to dividends

Individual Numbers and Specific Personal Information of business partners necessary for filing with the Tax Office, etc.

  • Execution of affairs concerning preparation and submit of records of payment

Individual Numbers and Specific Personal Information of our employees and their dependents

  • Execution of health insurance-related affairs, welfare pension insurance-related affairs, and other affairs related to social security as provided for by law
  • Execution of withholding-related affairs and other tax-related affairs specified by law
  • Execution of administration related to shareholding association and other welfare

Individual Numbers of recipients of corporate pensions

  • Execution of affairs concerning preparation and submit of records of payment

(1)-3 Personally Referable Information to be Acquired and Purpose of Use

Personally Referable Information held by us and its purpose of use are mainly as follows.

Items of Personally Referable Information Purpose of Use

Cookies (Cookie), and peripheral and similar information (“Cookies, etc.”)

  • Understanding and analyzing the status of use by users of the various websites we operate, including our membership web services (hereinafter referred to as “Our Websites”)
  • Retention of users’ history of viewing content on Our Websites
  • Following matters through analysis of users’ viewing history on Our Websites
    1. Improvement and enhancement of convenience of Our Websites
    2. Display of contents according to users’ interests and concerns (including display of content more suitable for users in combination with status of use of other websites and services provided by the Ajinomoto Group*) and information on Our Products and Services
    3. Display of advertisement of Our Products and Services outside our websites, and measurement of effectiveness of advertisement in response to user interests and concerns

* The Ajinomoto Group refers to our domestic affiliates listed here, and the same hereinafter.
* When you apply for the use of various services provided on our website, the Cookies, etc. we acquire may become Personal Information of our customers. In this case, we would appropriately use the relevant Cookies, etc. as Personal Information.

You can also reject the use of the Cookies, etc. by changing your browser settings by yourself. However, in this case, some of our websites may not be available.

(2) Purpose of Use of Personal Information Entrusted to Handle

Personal Information that we are entrusted to handle shall be used within the scope of the purposes for which we are entrusted.

(3) Joint Use

Personal Information jointly utilized and its purpose are as follows.

Items of Personal Information Jointly Utilizedto be Shared Purpose of Joint Usesharing Scope of jJoint Uusers Management Rrepresentative

The following information acquired on our site:

  • Hashed email address
  • Information registered by users of Oour Websites, such as attribute information
  • History of viewing and usage on Oour Websites
  • Improvement and enhancement of convenience of various websites operated by the Ajinomoto Group
  • Compilation and analysis of statistical data for use in the development and marketing of Our Products and Services
  • Display of contents and introductions on Our Products and Services in response to users' interests and concerns, by the Ajinomoto Group
    Display of advertisement outside of Our Websites on Our Products and Services in response to the interests of users and measuring effectiveness of distribution and advertisement, by the Ajinomoto Group
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
The Ajinomoto Group (*)
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

The following information acquired through the Ajinomoto Direct:

  • Name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, customer ID, etc.
  • Viewing and purchasing history, and status of use of services in the Ajinomoto Direct
  • Ordering, shipping, payment, and responding to inquiries about Our Products and Services
  • Communications related to the above
  • R&D and advertising for Our Products and Services
  • Introduction to campaigns, event information, etc.
  • Questionnaires, surveys, and other requests for cooperation
  • Sending and offering prizes and rewards for campaigns, surveys, etc.
  • Compilation and analysis of statistical data for use in the development and marketing of Our Products and Services
  • In the case of mail-order sales via the Internet, the following matters through analysis of customers' browsing history, purchase history, etc. on the Ajinomoto Direct website
    1. At the Ajinomoto Direct site Improvement and enhancement of convenience
    2. Display contents in response to customers’ interests and concerns, and introduction on Our Products and Services
    3. Display of advertisements on Our Products and Services in response to customers’ interests and concerns outside of the Ajinomoto Direct site, and measuring the effectiveness of advertisements
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
Ajinomoto Group
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

The following information acquired when customers sent opinions and inquiries at our Customer Service Center:

Name, Address, Phone Number, Mail Address, Date of Birth, etc.

  • Responses to opinions and inquiries received
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
The Ajinomoto Group
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

The following information about employees of the Ajinomoto Group:

Name Mail Address, Date of Birth, etc.

  • Business communication
  • Operations with respect to personnel and labor management
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
The Ajinomoto Group
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

2.Appropriate Management and Protection of Personal Information

We have established the Group Shared Policy on Privacy as the basic policy for ensuring the appropriate handling of Personal Information and have stipulated compliance with relevant laws and regulations. In addition, we have established “Information Security Regulations” and “Guidelines for Handling Personal Information” (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Regulations”) and have established regulations concerning the handling of Personal Data (hereinafter referred to as the “Personal Information Protection Law”) among Personal Information, and are implementing the following measures.

<Initiatives>

  1. Organizational security control measures
    • Establishment of Personal Information Managers in each of our departments to clarify the system and responsibilities for Personal Data management
    • Establishment of a system for communicating information to personnel in charge and related departments in the event of an accident such as a leak of information
    • Listing and handling the status of Personal Data management in each of our divisions
    • Procedures for entrusting the handling of Personal Information to a third party (prior evaluation of the entrusted party, acceptance by the department in charge of information security, conclusion of an entrustment contract that stipulates the obligation of the entrusted party with the handling of Personal Information, etc.), and establishment of a supervisory system after entrustment (periodic reports on the status of management at the entrusted party, etc.)
  2. Personnel security control measures
    • Periodic education of our employees on information security
    • Clarify the supervisory responsibilities of the head of the department to ensure that our employees comply with all relevant laws and internal regulations.
  3. Physical security control measures
    • Restrictions on equipment used, such as the use of safe equipment
    • Implement measures to prevent unauthorized persons from viewing Personal Data, such as locking management of storage areas for documents and other media containing Personal Data, setting rules for use of equipment inside and outside the company, etc.
  4. Technical security control measure
    • Limit the scope of the personnel in charge and Personal Data that can be handled by him/her due to access restrictions.
    • For information systems that handle Personal Data, a system that protects against unauthorized access or software from outside is introduced depending on the nature of the data.
  5. Understanding of the external environment
    • Implementation of security control measures based on understanding the personal information protection system in the country where Personal Data is stored

3.Provision of Personal Information to Third Party

We do not provide any Personal Information acquired by us to any third party except in the event of any of the following or otherwise provided for in the Act on the Protection of Personal Information or other laws and regulations.

<For provision to third parties>

  1. In the event the principal agrees in advance to the provision to a third party
  2. In the event the business is entrusted to a third party to the extent necessary for the achievement of the purpose of use
  3. In the case of joint use based on the Act on the Protection of Personal Information
  4. Provision to a business successor upon business succession due to merger, company split, business transfer, or other reasons

4.Procedures for Requests for Disclosure of Retained Personal Data and Third Party Provide Records

(1)Type of various requests

In the event of a request for disclosure of the following Retained Personal Data (as defined in the Act on the Protection of Personal Information; the same shall apply hereinafter) or a request for disclosure of records of third-party provision (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Various Requests”), we will respond to such request in accordance with the provisions of (2) through (4).

  1. Notification of the purpose of use
  2. Disclosuree
  3. Correction, addition, or deletion of the contents (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Correction, etc.")e
  4. Suspension of use or deletion (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Suspension of Use, etc.")e
  5. Suspension of provision to a third partye

(2)Procedures for Various Requests

  1. Where to Make the Requests
    Please contact an inquiry desk installed individually by each of our services, sites, etc. for which the customer has provided Personal Information. If you are unsure of the inquiry desk, please contact us here (Japanese Only).
    Customer information, member information, etc. registered on our mail-order sales website, membership web service, etc. may be confirmed, changed, or deleted by yourself. The purpose of use of Personal Information may be described in this Privacy Policy, etc. In these cases, please check the site where you entered your personal information if you would like to make changes yourself.
  2. How to request

    ■ In the event of a request, by or on behalf of the principal, for disclosure of the Retained Personal Data or a request for disclosure of the records on third-party provision
    Please notify us by mailing the following necessary documents to the address stated or indicated at the contact point mentioned in ① above. In addition, please write down in red on the envelope, "There is an application form regarding Personal Information." A fee of ¥800 shall be paid for each request (postage stamps equivalent to the actual cost of sending a response, provided, however, that the amount of the fee and the method of payment may be separately determined depending on the method of response or the quantity of the contents of the response).

    [Necessary documents]

    • Application form (Japanese Only)
    • A copy of any one of the driver's license, health insurance card, passport, My Number Card, Pension Handbook, or special permanent resident certificate (for both the principal and agent in the case of a request from an agent)
    • In addition to the identification documents mentioned above (if the identification documents mentioned above do not contain the current address), a copy of the certificate of residence or utility charge invoice which confirms the name and current address of the principal (or, in the case of a request from an agent, both the principal and the agent)
    • Documents to confirm the agent relationship with the principal, such as a power of attorney (only if requested by an agent)
    • 800 Yen-worth postage stamps (however, the amount of the commission and the method of payment may be specified separately).

    ※ If there is a deficiency in the above necessary documents, we will notice you, but if there is no re-filing of the necessary documents within two weeks after the notice, we will treat them as having no request. Also, please be aware that we may contact you by phone, etc. to confirm the details of your request, etc.

    ※ If we do not receive the prescribed fees after the notice, we will treat them as having no request. Regardless of the circumstances, we do not accept any return of the fees.

    ■In the event of a request on Retained Personal Data by the principal or his/her agent for Correction, etc., Suspension of Use, etc., suspension of provision to a third party, or notification of the purpose of use

    Please inform us of the details of your request at the inquiry desk in ① above, and provide the information necessary for the identification, such as the name, address, date of birth, and telephone number, in accordance with the guidance. In addition, as in the case of a request for disclosure of Retained Personal Data or a request for disclosure of a record of third-party provision, a document for identification may be required to be submitted. In addition, in the event of a request from an agent, please provide documents that can be confirmed the agent's relationship with the principal(other methods equivalent to this if it is difficult to provide documents).

  3. How to identify the principal/the agent
    We will identify the principal and the agent by checking the provided information and documents necessary for identification of the principal and confirmation of agent relationship.
  4. Manner of response to a request
    Regarding a claim for disclosure of Retained Personal Data or a request for disclosure of a record of third-party provision, we will reply to the request by sending the document to the current address stated in necessary documents listed above or by sending the electromagnetic record to the e-mail address stated in the above application form by attaching the electromagnetic record to the e-mail address. Provided, however, that in the event the disclosure by the latter method requires a large amount of costs or in the event it is difficult to disclose by the said method, we will notify you and respond by the former method.
    We will reply in the manner prescribed by us to your request for Correction, etc., Suspension of Use, etc., suspension of provision to a third party or notification of purpose of use on Retained Personal Data.

(3)Purpose of use of Personal Information acquired in relation to Various Requests

Personal Information acquired in relation to Various Requests will be used only for the purpose of investigations necessary for responding to requests, identification of the principal and the agent, sending of responses and necessary communications. The documents sent to us for Various Requests will be discarded within six months after the response is completed.

(4)Cases where we do not respond to Various Requests

In the following cases, we cannot respond to your request. If we do not respond to your claims, we will notify you to that effect.

  1. Cases where your identification cannot be made
  2. Cases where an identification of agent relationship cannot be made upon requests by your agent
  3. When the target of Various Requests is not Retained Personal Data
  4. Cases in which Correction, etc. is not necessary from the viewpoint of the purpose of use, or in which the instruction that Retained Personal Data is an error is not correct
  5. Cases where a request for Suspension of Use, etc. does not have basis required by the Act on the Protection of Personal Information
  6. In the event that the provision to a third party is made without violating the Act on the Protection of Personal Information
  7. Other cases stipulated by laws and regulations.

5. Inquiry Desk for Other Inquiries on Personal Information

Inquiries on Personal Information other than the above-mentioned Various Requests, such as changes in the registered information of each websites or contents operated by us, suspension of services, or other inquiries or complaints , should be made to the said sites or contents. If you don’t know where to contact, please contact here.

6.Notice to the Principal and Report to the Personal Information Protection Commission

In the event of a leak of Personal Information, we shall notify the principal and report it to the Personal Information Protection Commission in accordance with the provisions of the the Act on the Protection of Personal Information.

7.Revision of this Privacy Policy

We revise our policy on the protection and handling of Personal Information from time to time and may revise the contents of this Privacy Policy without prior notice. The revised Privacy Policy shall be promptly published on our website and shall become effective upon its publication. Provided, however, that in the event the purpose of use of the acquired Personal Information is changed beyond the scope that is reasonably recognized to be related to the purpose of use before the change, we shall obtain the consent of the principap with regard to the change of purpose of use.