GDPR Privacy Policy

The Masason Foundation (“the Foundation”) respects privacy and is committed to protecting the privacy of its authorized members and associate members ; applicants (including those who have completed a pre-application on this website); event participants, etc. ; and users of this website (collectively “Foundation Users.”). This Privacy Policy describes how the Foundation collects, stores, uses, and protects the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. and establishes their privacy rights.

1. Scope of Application

This Privacy Policy applies only to the processing of personal data related to Foundation Members, etc. where such processing is subject to privacy laws and regulations applicable in the member states of the European Economic Area (“EEA”) and the United Kingdom, including the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and UK GDPR.

2. Scope of Personal Data Handled

(1) The Foundation may obtain personal data related to Foundation Members, etc. in connection with the provision of its youth support/support grant program and other programs conducted to achieve the Foundation’s objectives. Personal data obtained by the Foundation will be used only to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected, and will not be used for any other purpose without the consent of the Foundation Members, etc.

(2) The Foundation may obtain the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. in the following circumstances.
  1.  Application for the Foundation’s member selection process
  2.  Participation in events organized by the Foundation
  3.  Inquiries made to the Foundation
  4.  In addition to the above items, the provision of programs undertaken by the Foundation to fulfill its objectives
(3) The Foundation may obtain the following personal data of Foundation Members, etc.
  1.  Name
  2.  Affiliation (school name, etc.)
  3.  Nationality
  4.  Address
  5.  Phone number
  6.  Email address
  7.  Parent/guardian’s name and contact information
  8.  Educational and professional background
  9.  In addition to the above items, any information necessary for the provision of programs undertaken by the Foundation to fulfill its objectives
(4) As a general rule, the Foundation does not collect sensitive personal data or personal data related to criminal convictions and offenses, except where the requirements of applicable laws are satisfied.

3. Purpose of Use of Personal Data

The Foundation uses the personal data it holds on Foundation Members, etc. for the following purposes. The Foundation will use the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. only to the extent necessary to achieve these purposes.
  1.  TO PERFORM WORK RELATED TO FOSTERING THOSE WHO CREATE THE FUTURE
  2.  TO PERFORM WORK RELATED TO SUPPORT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER SUCH ENTITIES THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVILIZATION
  3.  TO CONTACT AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON EVENTS TO APPLICANTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY THE FOUNDATION
  4.  TO IMPLEMENT AND OPERATE SUCH EVENTS, ETC. ORGANIZED BY THE FOUNDATION
  5.  TO CONDUCT SURVEYS, ETC. RELATED TO EVENTS, ETC. IN WHICH FOUNDATION MEMBERS, ETC. HAVE PARTICIPATED
  6.  TO FACILITATE PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES, AND PERFORM RESEARCH NEEDED TO IMPROVE THESE ACTIVITIES
  7.  TO PERFORM WORK RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF FOUNDATION MEMBERS, ETC.
  8.  TO RECEIVE OPINIONS AND INQUIRIES FROM FOUNDATION MEMBERS, ETC. AND TO RESPOND TO SUCH OPINIONS AND INQUIRIES
  9.  TO CONDUCT ANALYSES AND COLLECT STATISTICS RELATED TO THE CONTENT OF THE FOUNDATION’S PROGRAMS
  10.  FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE DISCLOSED AT THE TIME THE PERSONAL DATA OF FOUNDATION MEMBERS, ETC. IS OBTAINED

4. Use of Cookies, etc.

This website may use cookies and other similar technologies to improve convenience and to understand and analyze how the website is used.
The Foundation uses Google Analytics to analyze the usage of this website. Information collected through Google Analytics may include information obtained through the use of cookies.
In addition, certain features of this website may use local storage and other browser-based storage functions, and certain pages may use sharing functions provided by X and other external services.
Foundation Members, etc. may restrict or disable the use of cookies by changing their browser settings. However, doing so may prevent them from using certain features of this website.

5. Lawful Processing

The Foundation processes the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. only in cases where it is permitted by law. The Foundation processes the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. on the following bases.

  1.  Consent: Where Foundation Members, etc. have given their consent to this Privacy Policy, the Foundation may process their personal data on the basis of such consent.
  2.  Performance of contractual obligations: Where it is necessary for the Foundation to process the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. in order to perform a contract entered into between the Foundation and such Foundation Members, etc.
  3.  Legal obligation: Where the Foundation is required to comply with a legal obligation
  4.  Legitimate interests: Where it is necessary to process the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. for the legitimate interests of the Foundation or a third party, except where the interests or fundamental rights of Foundation Members, etc. take precedence over such interests.

6. Recipients of Personal Data

The Foundation may share the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. with the following categories of recipients.
  1.  Service providers (including companies providing Internet services, cloud services, security, data analytics, and other IT-related services)
  2.  Contractors (limited to cases where the Foundation outsources work to a third party and the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of such work)
  3.  Co-organizers, partner institutions, etc. involved in events, programs, etc. provided to Foundation Members, etc.

7. Transfers of Personal Data to Third Countries

Personal data of Foundation Members, etc. held by the Foundation may be transferred to and stored by third parties outside the EEA or the United Kingdom. Where the Foundation transfers the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. to a third party located outside the EEA or the United Kingdom, the Foundation will confirm that the destination territory has been recognized by the European Commission or the Government of the United Kingdom as ensuring an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms that Foundation Members, etc. have in relation to their personal data.
Transfers of personal data to Japan are based on the adequacy decision related to cross-border data transfers granted to Japan. For information regarding Japan’s adequacy decision, please refer to the European Commission’s website.

[European Commission Website]
https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection_en

8. Retention Period

The retention period for personal data obtained by the Foundation varies depending on the category of personal data. The Foundation will store personal data only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of processing applicable to the relevant category. However, this shall not apply where the Foundation is required by law to store personal data for a longer period. In such cases, the Foundation will continue to store such personal data for the period required by law.

9. Security Measures

The Foundation takes necessary measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, loss, alteration, or destruction of the personal data it handles, and otherwise ensures the proper management of such personal data. In addition, the operation of this website may be outsourced to a third party. In such cases, the contractor will also comply with the GDPR and related laws and regulations, and take necessary measures to prevent the leakage, loss, and damage of the personal data it handles, as well as to ensure the proper management of other information it handles.

10. Rights of Data Subjects

(1) The Foundation Members, etc. have the following rights in relation to personal data held by the Foundation concerning them.

  1.  The right to obtain information regarding the processing of personal data relating to Foundation Members, etc. and the right to access personal data held by the Foundation concerning them
  2.  The right to request that the Foundation rectify personal data of Foundation Members, etc. where such personal data is inaccurate or incomplete
  3.  The right to request that the Foundation erase the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. under certain circumstances (including, but not limited to, the circumstances set out below)
    • Where it is no longer necessary for the Foundation to continue holding the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. in light of the purposes for which such personal data was collected
    • Where the Foundation is permitted to process personal data only on the basis of the consent of Foundation Members, etc. and such consent has been withdrawn by the Foundation Members, etc.
    • Where Foundation Members, etc. object to the processing of personal data by the Foundation based on legitimate interests, and the Foundation’s legitimate interests do not take precedence over the interests, rights, and freedoms of Foundation Members, etc.
  4.  The right to request that the Foundation restrict the processing of personal data under certain circumstances (including, but not limited to, the circumstances set out below)
    • Where Foundation Members, etc. contest the accuracy of their personal data (limited to the period necessary for the Foundation to verify its accuracy)
    • Where it is no longer necessary for the Foundation to continue processing the personal data, except for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims
    • Where Foundation Members, etc. object to the processing of personal data by the Foundation based on legitimate interests (limited to the period necessary to determine whether the Foundation’s legitimate interests take precedence over the interests, rights, and freedoms of Foundation Members, etc.)
  5.  The right to object to the Foundation’s processing of the personal data of Foundation Members, etc.
  6.  Where personal data is processed on the basis of the consent of Foundation Members, etc. and no other legal basis applies, the right to receive such personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and/or to request that the Foundation transmit such personal data directly to another recipient, to the extent technically feasible (provided that this right applies only to personal data provided to the Foundation by Foundation Members, etc. themselves)
  7.  The right to withdraw consent to the processing of the personal data of Foundation Members, etc. at any time (provided, however, that the Foundation may continue to process the personal data of Foundation Members, etc., where it may rely on another legal basis)
(2) Foundation Members, etc. may exercise their rights in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 11. If Foundation Members, etc. believe that their rights have been infringed by the Foundation, they may also lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions, etc. regarding this Privacy Policy, the exercise of your rights as a Foundation Member, etc., or any other matters relating to the protection of personal data, please contact the Foundation using its inquiry form. If you submit a request related to personal data, including a request for access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, objection, withdrawal of consent, or any other matter, the Foundation will, where necessary, provide you with an application form and instructions regarding the relevant procedures. When submitting an application, you may be required to provide a completed application form and identity verification documents specified by the Foundation. In addition, where an application is submitted by a representative, documents verifying the representative may also be required. Please refer to the instructions for details. Upon confirming the submitted documents and verifying your identity, the Foundation will respond to your request in accordance with laws and regulations. If the Foundation is unable to comply with your request, it will promptly notify you of the reason.

Established on June 9, 2026