Terms of Service

Terms of Service

Last updated: 23 June 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to OJL – Online Japanese Lessons (“OJL,” “we,” “our“). These Terms of Service (“Terms“) govern your access to and use of the OJL website, mobile pages, and all related services (collectively, the “Service“). By creating an account or otherwise using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

2. Account Registration

1. You must provide accurate and complete information when creating an account.
2. Users must be at least 13 years old. Users under 18 require the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
3. You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and for all activities conducted through your account.

3. Service Overview

The Service connects students with independent instructors (“Teachers“) who provide live, one‑to‑one Japanese‑language lessons delivered via Google Meet. Students may browse Teacher profiles, purchase lesson packages or subscriptions, book individual lessons, and communicate with Teachers through the platform.

4. Booking, Cancellation & Reschedule Policy

4.1 Booking

Lessons are booked according to each Teacher’s published availability. A lesson is confirmed only after full payment has been processed and you receive a booking‑confirmation e‑mail.

4.2 Free‑Cancellation Window

You may cancel or reschedule any lesson up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time free of charge:

• Cancellations – Single‑lesson purchases receive a 100 % refund; package or subscription users have the credit restored to their balance.
• Reschedules – The lesson may be moved once to a new date/time at no cost.
  All times are calculated in Japan Standard Time (JST / UTC+9).

4.3 Late Cancellation & No‑Show

• A late cancellation is any cancellation or reschedule request made within 24 hours of the lesson start time.
• A no‑show occurs when the student fails to join the Google Meet classroom within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time.
  In both cases, the lesson is marked completed and one credit is deducted from your package/subscription; no refund or additional reschedule is provided.

4.4 Procedure

All cancellations or reschedules must be submitted via the “My Lessons” dashboard. Requests sent by e‑mail, chat, or phone are not considered official notice.

4.5 Teacher‑Initiated Changes

If a Teacher cancels a lesson within 24 hours of the start time, you may choose either:

1. A full monetary refund or credit return plus one additional complimentary credit, or
2. A free reschedule of the affected lesson.

4.6 Technical Issues

• Student‑side internet or device failure is treated as a late cancellation or no‑show.
• Teacher‑side failure or a platform‑wide outage (e.g., Google Meet downtime) entitles you to a free reschedule or full credit return.

4.7 Exceptional Circumstances

Serious illness, natural disaster, or other force‑majeure events may be exempted from the foregoing rules at the discretion of the OJL Support Team. Supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate) may be required.

4.8 Repeated Violations

Two consecutive no‑shows or three late cancellations within any 60‑day period may result in temporary suspension of booking privileges.

5. Payments

All lessons and lesson packages must be paid in advance via the payment methods listed on the website. Prices are displayed in Japanese yen (JPY) unless otherwise noted and are subject to change without prior notice.

6. Subscription Plans (Monthly & Annual)

6.1 Auto‑Renewal

Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle (30 days for Monthly Plans, 365 days for Annual Plans) unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the next billing date.

6.2 How to Cancel

You must cancel via the “Manage Subscription” button in your dashboard. Requests by e‑mail, chat, or phone are not accepted as official notice.

6.3 Effective Date of Cancellation

After cancellation, you may continue to book and attend lessons until the end of the current billing period; any unused lesson credits expire at that time.

6.4 Refunds

• Monthly Plans – No refunds are provided for partial months.
• Annual Plans – A full refund is available within seven (7) days of the initial purchase. After eight (8) days have elapsed, no refund is issued.

6.5 Plan Changes

Subscription upgrades or downgrades cannot be processed mid‑cycle. To change plans, cancel the current subscription (effective at the end of the current period) and purchase a new plan afterward.

6.6 Account Suspension

Failure to pay or violation of these Terms may result in immediate suspension and automatic cancellation after seven (7) days of non‑payment.

6.7 Price Changes

We will notify you by e‑mail at least thirty (30) days in advance of any price increase; continued use after that date constitutes acceptance.

7. Refund Policy

Refunds are granted in the following circumstances:

1. The Teacher fails to appear for a scheduled lesson (§ 4.5).
2. A platform‑side technical issue prevents the lesson from taking place (§ 4.6).
3. An administrative error, such as double‑booking, causes a cancellation.
   Refund requests must be submitted within seven (7) days of the affected lesson. Approved refunds are processed to the original payment method.

8. Prohibited Conduct

Users may not:

• Share illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate content;
• Harass, threaten, or abuse Teachers or other users;
• Impersonate any person or misrepresent their identity;
• Attempt to disrupt, probe, or hack the Service.
  Violation of these rules may result in immediate account suspension or termination.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on the Service—including text, graphics, logos, and multimedia—is the intellectual property of OJL or its content providers and is protected by applicable copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without express written permission.

10. Modifications & Termination

OJL reserves the right to modify or discontinue the Service, or to suspend/terminate accounts that violate these Terms, at any time and without prior notice.

11. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Osaka, Japan.

12. Policy Updates

We may revise these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be announced on the website and by e‑mail; the updated Terms will become effective seven (7) days after such notice unless you notify us that you do not agree.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us.
Address: OJL Support Team, Osaka, Japan