Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 13, 2026
Version: 1.0
NihongoListening ("NihongoListening", "we", "us", or "our") is a website for practicing Japanese listening skills.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, how long we keep it, who may receive it, and what choices and rights you have.
The data controller responsible for NihongoListening is:
Leonid Vinogradov
Russian Federation
Email: angaria.intestinum@gmail.com
You can use the core listening practice without creating an account or providing an email address.
Providing your email address, submitting feedback, expressing product interests, and enabling optional analytics are voluntary.
1. Data We Collect
Depending on how you use NihongoListening, we may process the following information.
1.1 Email address
We collect your email address only when you voluntarily ask to receive updates from NihongoListening.
What we collect
Your email address and information related to your subscription, such as the time of consent, consent version, language, and unsubscribe status.
Why we collect it
To send occasional emails about:
- new Japanese listening exercises;
- new JLPT levels;
- new features;
- product updates;
- opportunities to test new NihongoListening content.
Legal basis
Your consent.
Retention
We keep your email address until:
- you unsubscribe;
- you withdraw your consent; or
- the mailing list is discontinued.
After you unsubscribe, we may retain a minimal suppression record where reasonably necessary to ensure that we do not send you further subscription emails and to demonstrate compliance with applicable legal requirements.
Who receives it
- Leonid Vinogradov, as the operator of NihongoListening;
- Timeweb (JSC Timeweb), which provides the SMTP infrastructure used to send emails.
Your email address may also be stored in the NihongoListening database hosted on FirstVDS.
You do not need to provide an email address to use the listening practice.
1.2 Visitor ID
If you consent to optional analytics, NihongoListening may assign your browser a pseudonymous persistent visitor_id.
The visitor_id does not by itself contain your name or email address.
Why we collect it
To:
- distinguish returning visitors;
- understand whether users return for additional practice;
- associate multiple practice sessions with the same pseudonymous browser;
- measure retention;
- understand how the service is used;
- improve NihongoListening.
Legal basis
Consent where required for persistent analytics tracking.
We do not use the persistent analytics visitor_id where consent for this processing is required and has not been provided.
Retention
Up to 12 months from your last recorded activity.
Who receives it
The identifier may be processed:
- by NihongoListening on infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS;
- as part of our own first-party analytics.
We do not intentionally send our internal visitor_id to Google Analytics.
1.3 Session ID
When you start a listening practice session, NihongoListening may generate a temporary or pseudonymous session_id.
Why we collect it
To:
- maintain your current listening session;
- select the correct questions;
- avoid duplicate questions within a session;
- associate answers with the correct practice session;
- calculate and display your result.
Legal basis
Our legitimate interest in providing and operating the listening service requested by you.
Where a session identifier is strictly necessary to provide the requested service, it may be used without optional analytics consent.
Retention
Temporary session information may be deleted shortly after the session ends.
Where session records are also retained for permitted product analytics, they may be stored for up to 12 months.
Who receives it
Session information is processed primarily on NihongoListening infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS.
1.4 Listening session results
We may store information about completed or partially completed listening sessions, including:
- score;
- completion status;
- selected JLPT level;
- question types encountered.
Why we collect it
To:
- calculate and display your result;
- understand session completion;
- evaluate which exercises are useful or difficult;
- improve NihongoListening;
- understand repeat usage where analytics consent has been provided.
Legal basis
Our legitimate interest in providing and improving NihongoListening.
Where results are linked across separate visits for optional analytics purposes and consent is required, we rely on your consent.
Retention
Up to 12 months from your last recorded activity.
Who receives it
The data is primarily stored on NihongoListening infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS.
Aggregated event information may also be sent to Google Analytics where you have consented to optional analytics.
1.5 Answers and mistakes
We may record information such as:
- which question you answered;
- which answer you selected;
- whether your answer was correct;
- the type of question;
- the related JLPT level.
Why we collect it
To:
- calculate results;
- display feedback;
- understand which exercise types are more difficult;
- identify poor or problematic questions;
- improve listening exercises and user experience.
Legal basis
Our legitimate interest in providing and improving the service.
Where this information is used for optional persistent analytics, we rely on consent where required by applicable law.
Retention
Up to 12 months from your last recorded activity.
Who receives it
Detailed question-level data is stored primarily on NihongoListening infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS.
We do not intentionally send the full content of your answers, our internal session IDs, or internal visitor IDs to Google Analytics.
1.6 JLPT level
We may record the JLPT level you choose, such as:
- N5;
- N4;
- N3.
Why we collect it
To:
- provide the requested listening exercises;
- calculate session results;
- understand which levels are most useful to users;
- improve the content available for each level.
Legal basis
Our legitimate interest in operating and improving NihongoListening.
Retention
Up to 12 months when stored as part of session or analytics data.
Who receives it
The data may be stored on NihongoListening infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS.
The selected JLPT level may also be sent to Google Analytics as a non-directly-identifying event parameter where optional analytics have been accepted.
1.7 Feedback
If you voluntarily answer feedback questions or submit a written comment, we may collect information such as:
- whether you would use NihongoListening regularly;
- how frequently you might use it;
- comments about the service;
- suggestions for improvement.
Why we collect it
To understand user needs and improve NihongoListening.
Legal basis
Our legitimate interest in developing and improving the service.
Where applicable law requires consent for the relevant processing, we may instead rely on your consent.
Retention
Up to 24 months.
Who receives it
Feedback is primarily accessible to the operator of NihongoListening and stored on infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS.
We do not intentionally send the text of your feedback to Google Analytics.
Feedback may be converted into aggregated or anonymised statistics that can no longer reasonably be linked to an individual user. Such anonymous statistics may be retained for longer.
1.8 Product interests
You may voluntarily tell us what you would like NihongoListening to build next.
For example:
- more N5, N4, or N3 exercises;
- JLPT N2;
- JLPT N1;
- full listening mock tests;
- everyday Japanese listening;
- anime-style Japanese listening.
Why we collect it
To:
- understand demand for future features;
- decide which content to create;
- determine product priorities.
Legal basis
Our legitimate interest in understanding user needs and developing NihongoListening.
Where required by applicable law, we may rely on your consent.
Retention
Up to 24 months.
Who receives it
Product-interest data is stored primarily on NihongoListening infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS and is accessible to the operator of NihongoListening.
Aggregated information may be retained for longer where it is no longer personal data.
1.9 Traffic source and UTM data
When you visit NihongoListening through a link containing campaign or referral information, we may process:
- referral source;
utm_source;utm_medium;utm_campaign;- similar campaign parameters.
Why we collect it
To understand:
- how users discover NihongoListening;
- whether visitors come from search engines, social media, advertising, direct links, or other websites;
- which marketing channels lead to actual listening practice.
Legal basis
Where such information is used with optional analytics technologies or linked across visits, we rely on consent where required by applicable law.
Limited referral information may also be processed where permitted based on our legitimate interest in understanding basic website traffic.
Retention
Up to 12 months.
Who receives it
Traffic-source information may be:
- stored on NihongoListening infrastructure hosted by FirstVDS;
- sent to Google Analytics when optional analytics have been accepted.
2. Technical Information and Server Logs
Like most websites, NihongoListening's server infrastructure may automatically process limited technical information necessary to receive and respond to web requests.
This may include information such as:
- IP address;
- requested URL;
- request date and time;
- browser or user-agent information;
- response status;
- technical error information.
Why we process it
To:
- deliver the website;
- maintain security;
- diagnose technical errors;
- detect abuse;
- maintain server stability.
Legal basis
Our legitimate interest in securely operating NihongoListening.
Retention
Server-log retention is configured separately from listening analytics and should be limited to a period reasonably necessary for security and technical operation.
Who receives it
These logs are stored on FirstVDS-hosted server infrastructure in the Russian Federation and are accessible to NihongoListening and, where necessary for infrastructure support, the hosting provider.
3. How We Use Your Data
We use the information described in this Policy to:
- provide Japanese listening exercises;
- maintain practice sessions;
- calculate and display listening results;
- provide feedback after questions;
- understand which JLPT levels and question types users practice;
- identify technical and content problems;
- improve questions and user experience;
- understand whether users return for additional practice where permitted;
- understand how users discover NihongoListening;
- evaluate marketing and acquisition channels;
- analyse voluntary feedback and product interests;
- send product and content updates when you have explicitly requested them;
- maintain the security and stability of the website;
- prevent misuse;
- comply with applicable legal obligations.
We do not use your listening results to make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning you.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
Where the European Union General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") or similar legislation applies, we rely on one or more of the following legal bases.
Consent
We rely on consent for activities including:
- optional email updates;
- Google Analytics and other optional analytics technologies where consent is required;
- persistent cross-session analytics identifiers where consent is required.
Consent is optional.
You may refuse consent without losing access to the core listening practice.
You may withdraw consent at any time.
Legitimate interests
We may rely on our legitimate interests to:
- provide the core listening service;
- maintain active practice sessions;
- calculate results;
- operate and secure NihongoListening;
- diagnose technical problems;
- prevent abuse;
- improve exercises;
- analyse voluntary feedback;
- understand basic service usage where permitted by law.
We seek to collect only the information reasonably necessary for these purposes.
Where applicable law requires consent instead, we will request consent before carrying out the relevant processing.
Legal obligations
We may process or retain information where necessary to:
- comply with applicable law;
- respond to lawful requests;
- protect legal rights;
- establish, exercise, or defend legal claims;
- comply with regulatory requirements.
5. Cookies, Local Storage and Analytics
NihongoListening may use cookies, browser storage, or similar technologies.
Necessary technologies
Some technologies are necessary to:
- maintain your current listening session;
- remember technical session state;
- remember your language preference;
- remember your privacy choices;
- provide security features;
- allow the website to function correctly.
These technologies are not used for optional advertising or cross-site behavioural advertising.
Optional analytics
NihongoListening uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the website.
Where applicable law requires consent, Google Analytics is not activated until you accept optional analytics.
Google Analytics may process information such as:
- pages viewed;
- interaction events;
- approximate technical information about your device and browser;
- traffic and referral source;
- Google Analytics-generated identifiers;
- selected non-sensitive event parameters such as JLPT level or language.
We do not intentionally send Google Analytics:
- your email address;
- the text of your feedback;
- our internal
visitor_id; - our internal
session_id; - the full text of your listening answers.
Google Analytics is provided by Google.
For European personal data processed by Google as a controller under its applicable measurement terms, Google identifies Google Ireland Limited as its end controller.
Google and its affiliates may process data in multiple countries.
You may reject optional analytics and continue using the core listening practice.
You may later change your analytics choice using the Cookie Settings control available on the website.
6. Email Updates
Email updates are optional.
We send product or content-update emails only when you voluntarily provide your email address and request such updates.
The subscription interface explains the type of emails you are requesting before you subscribe.
Emails may include information about:
- newly added listening exercises;
- new JLPT levels;
- new listening modes;
- new NihongoListening features;
- opportunities to provide feedback or test new functionality.
Emails are sent using SMTP infrastructure provided by:
Timeweb (JSC Timeweb), Russian Federation.
You can unsubscribe at any time by:
- using the unsubscribe link included in an email; or
- contacting angaria.intestinum@gmail.com.
Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before your withdrawal.
Unsubscribing from emails does not restrict your ability to use NihongoListening.
7. Data Retention
We do not intend to keep identifiable or pseudonymous personal data indefinitely.
Our standard retention periods for the current version of NihongoListening are:
| Data | Standard retention |
|---|---|
| Email subscription | Until unsubscribe, consent withdrawal, or discontinuation of the mailing list |
| Visitor ID | Up to 12 months from last recorded activity |
| Session records | Up to 12 months |
| Listening results | Up to 12 months from last recorded activity |
| Answers and mistakes | Up to 12 months from last recorded activity |
| JLPT level associated with sessions | Up to 12 months |
| UTM and referral data | Up to 12 months |
| Feedback | Up to 24 months |
| Product interests | Up to 24 months |
| Server logs | For a limited period reasonably necessary for security and technical operation |
We may delete information earlier where it is no longer required.
Where technically and legally appropriate, information may instead be anonymised so that it can no longer reasonably be associated with an identifiable or pseudonymous individual.
Aggregated or irreversibly anonymised statistics may be retained for longer because they are no longer personal data.
We may retain limited records for longer where reasonably necessary to:
- comply with applicable law;
- demonstrate consent or withdrawal;
- prevent unwanted future email communications;
- resolve disputes;
- prevent abuse;
- establish or defend legal claims.
8. Service Providers
We use a limited number of third-party providers to operate NihongoListening.
FirstVDS / JSC IOT
NihongoListening is hosted on a VPS provided by FirstVDS, operated by JSC IOT (АО «ИОТ»).
Our VPS is located in the Russian Federation.
The VPS hosts the NihongoListening application and may store:
- SQLite databases;
- listening-session information;
- visitor analytics information;
- feedback;
- product-interest responses;
- waitlist email addresses;
- server logs;
- application files.
Backups are also stored on our FirstVDS VPS infrastructure in the Russian Federation.
Timeweb / JSC Timeweb
NihongoListening uses email infrastructure provided by Timeweb (JSC Timeweb / АО «ТаймВэб»).
Timeweb SMTP is used to deliver emails requested by users who voluntarily subscribe to NihongoListening updates.
Information processed in connection with sending an email may include:
- recipient email address;
- sender information;
- email content;
- technical delivery metadata.
Timeweb is based in the Russian Federation.
Google Analytics
NihongoListening uses Google Analytics for optional website analytics.
Google Analytics is provided by Google.
Depending on applicable Google terms, location, and processing context, relevant Google entities may include Google Ireland Limited, Google LLC, or other Google affiliates.
Google may process Analytics information in countries outside your country of residence.
Where required, Google Analytics is activated only after analytics consent.
CDN and external content-delivery providers
NihongoListening does not currently use a third-party CDN such as Cloudflare for website content delivery.
If this changes, this Privacy Policy will be updated where appropriate.
9. International Transfers
NihongoListening is operated by Leonid Vinogradov in the Russian Federation.
The primary NihongoListening VPS, application databases, and local backups are hosted in the Russian Federation through FirstVDS.
Email delivery is performed using Timeweb, a provider based in the Russian Federation.
Because users may access NihongoListening from other countries, using the service may involve personal data being processed in the Russian Federation.
This means that, for a user located outside the Russian Federation, personal data may be transferred from the user's country to the Russian Federation.
In addition, Google Analytics may involve processing by Google or its affiliates in multiple jurisdictions.
Data-protection laws in the countries where information is processed may differ from the laws in your country of residence.
Where applicable law requires a particular safeguard, transfer mechanism, assessment, or consent for an international data transfer, we will take the steps required under the applicable law.
If you would like additional information about international processing relevant to your personal data, contact:
angaria.intestinum@gmail.com
10. Your Rights
Depending on where you live and which law applies, you may have rights concerning your personal data.
These may include the right to:
- request information about how your personal data is processed;
- request access to personal data held about you;
- request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
- request deletion of eligible personal data;
- request restriction of certain processing;
- object to certain processing;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
- receive certain personal data in a portable format where applicable;
- lodge a complaint with a competent data protection authority.
Not all rights apply in every jurisdiction or in every situation.
Applicable law may also permit us to retain certain information despite a deletion or objection request.
To exercise a privacy right, contact:
angaria.intestinum@gmail.com
We may request limited additional information where reasonably necessary to verify your request.
If you are located in the European Economic Area and believe that your personal data has been processed unlawfully, you may also have the right to complain to the competent data-protection supervisory authority.
11. How to Withdraw Consent
You may withdraw optional consent at any time.
Email updates
You may:
- use the unsubscribe link provided in our emails; or
- contact angaria.intestinum@gmail.com.
After you unsubscribe, we will stop sending optional product-update emails.
Optional analytics
You can change your Google Analytics and optional analytics preference through:
Cookie Settings
available on the NihongoListening website.
If you withdraw analytics consent, we will stop optional analytics tracking from that point onward.
Where technically appropriate, optional analytics identifiers stored in your browser will also be removed or disabled.
Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before consent was withdrawn.
The core listening practice remains available if you reject or withdraw optional analytics consent.
12. How to Request Deletion
You may request deletion of personal data associated with you by contacting:
angaria.intestinum@gmail.com
We recommend using the subject:
Privacy / Data Deletion Request — NihongoListening
If the request concerns an email subscription, please provide the email address that you used.
If the request concerns pseudonymous listening or analytics information, we may need information such as your visitor_id, where technically available, to locate the relevant records.
We will delete or anonymise eligible data unless applicable law permits or requires us to retain certain information.
13. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures intended to protect data processed through NihongoListening.
These measures may include:
- HTTPS-secured connections;
- limiting administrative access;
- restricting access to server infrastructure and databases;
- authentication for administrative systems;
- server and software maintenance;
- secure configuration of services;
- database and application backups;
- reasonable measures to detect or prevent unauthorised access, abuse, loss, alteration, or disclosure.
The main NihongoListening application and databases are hosted on a FirstVDS VPS in the Russian Federation.
Backups are stored on the same FirstVDS VPS infrastructure.
Emails are transmitted through Timeweb SMTP infrastructure.
However, no website, server, database, email system, or Internet transmission method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
14. Children and Minors
NihongoListening is an educational service and may be useful to younger Japanese-language learners.
The core listening practice does not require an account or an email address.
We do not intentionally seek to collect unnecessary personal data from children.
If you are below the age at which you can legally provide consent for optional data processing in your country, you should not:
- subscribe to optional email updates; or
- enable optional analytics requiring consent,
without the permission of a parent or legal guardian where such permission is required by applicable law.
If you are a parent or legal guardian and believe that a child has provided personal data to NihongoListening in a way that is not legally permitted, contact:
angaria.intestinum@gmail.com
We will review the request and take appropriate action, including deletion where required.
15. Automated Processing
NihongoListening may automatically:
- calculate your listening score;
- determine whether an answer was correct;
- calculate results by question type;
- identify which question type was the most difficult within a practice session;
- recommend additional listening practice.
These functions are educational.
NihongoListening does not use the personal data described in this Policy for solely automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning you.
16. Sale of Personal Data
NihongoListening does not sell or rent personal data collected through the service.
We do not provide email addresses submitted to the NihongoListening mailing list to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
17. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when:
- the way NihongoListening processes data changes;
- new features are introduced;
- new analytics or service providers are added;
- data-retention periods change;
- new languages or countries are supported;
- applicable legal requirements change.
When the Policy is materially updated, we will update:
- the version number;
- the effective date.
Where a material change affects processing based on your consent, we will request new consent where required by applicable law.
Previous versions may be retained for legal, compliance, and record-keeping purposes.
18. Contact
The data controller responsible for NihongoListening is:
Leonid Vinogradov
Russian Federation
For privacy questions, access requests, correction requests, deletion requests, consent withdrawal, or other privacy-related matters, contact:
angaria.intestinum@gmail.com
Suggested email subject:
Privacy Request — NihongoListening