Privacy Policy

Last updated: 14 August 2026

Nogyo Intel (Michael Watt) respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through nogyo-intel.com (the “Site”), why we use it, when it may be shared, how long it is retained, and the choices and rights available to you.

This policy is intended to reflect Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information (“APPI”) and, where applicable, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“EU GDPR”), the United Kingdom GDPR (“UK GDPR”), and other applicable privacy laws. Rights and obligations may vary according to your location and the circumstances.

1. Who is responsible for your information

The operator and data controller is Nogyo Intel (Michael Watt), located in Saitama, Japan.

Privacy enquiries and requests may be sent to info [at] nogyo-intel [dot] com.

2. Information we collect

Depending on how you use the Site, we may collect the following categories of information.

  • Newsletter information: your email address and records relating to your subscription, consent, delivery, and unsubscribe preferences.
  • Enquiries and correspondence: your name, email address, organisation, job title, and any information you choose to include when contacting us about research, consulting, advertising, partnerships, or other matters.
  • Comments: information entered in a comment form, together with the commenter’s IP address, browser information, timestamp, and information used for moderation or spam prevention. Approved comments and the name you provide may be publicly visible.
  • Technical and usage information: IP address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page, requested pages, timestamps, error information, and security or server-log data.
  • Search information: search terms entered into the Site’s search function.
  • Cookie and similar-technology information: information stored or read through cookies and comparable technologies, as described below.
  • Interactive-feature information: information you voluntarily submit through any chatbot, questionnaire, survey, or similar feature that may be enabled on the Site.
  • Embedded-content information: third-party videos, maps, images, social content, or other embedded services may receive technical information and information about your interaction with that content.

Please do not send sensitive personal information unless it is necessary and we have specifically requested it.

3. How and why we use information

We use personal information only for stated or compatible purposes, including:

  • providing, operating, maintaining, and securing the Site;
  • sending newsletters and briefings that you requested;
  • responding to enquiries and communicating about our services or potential collaborations;
  • moderating comments and preventing spam, fraud, abuse, or security incidents;
  • understanding Site performance and improving content, navigation, and reader experience;
  • maintaining records of consent and privacy preferences;
  • establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims; and
  • complying with legal, regulatory, accounting, or reporting obligations.

Where the EU or UK GDPR applies, our lawful bases may include your consent, taking steps at your request or performing a contract, compliance with a legal obligation, and our legitimate interests in operating, securing, improving, and communicating about Nogyo Intel, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.

4. Newsletter subscriptions

When you subscribe to a Nogyo Intel newsletter or briefing, we use your email address to deliver the requested communications and manage your subscription. Where consent is the applicable legal basis, you may withdraw it at any time by using the unsubscribe link in an email or contacting us.

We may use hosting, form-processing, and email-delivery providers, such as Hostinger where configured, to collect subscription requests, maintain subscriber records, and deliver email. Where required, these providers process information under agreements, documented instructions, and safeguards appropriate to the service.

5. Cookies and similar technologies

The Site may use cookies that are necessary for security, administration, preferences, forms, comments, and core WordPress functionality. For example, WordPress may use cookies for logged-in administrators, comment preferences, or determining whether a browser accepts cookies.

We do not currently use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, or comparable advertising trackers on the public Site. If we introduce non-essential analytics, advertising, or profiling technologies, we will update this policy and request consent where required before those technologies are used.

6. Comments, public content, and Gravatar

If comments are enabled, information submitted in an approved comment may become public. An anonymised value created from your email address may be sent to the Gravatar service to determine whether you use it. If a Gravatar image is associated with your email address, it may appear publicly next to an approved comment. You should avoid including confidential or sensitive information in public comments.

7. Embedded content and external links

Articles may include embedded content or links from third-party websites. Embedded content may behave as though you visited the third party directly. That third party may collect technical information, use cookies, or monitor your interaction according to its own privacy practices. Nogyo Intel does not control third-party websites and encourages you to review their policies.

8. When information may be shared

We do not sell personal information. We may disclose information only where reasonably necessary:

  • to hosting, infrastructure, email-delivery, form-processing, security, backup, and technical-support providers;
  • to legal, accounting, insurance, or other professional advisers only where reasonably necessary to obtain advice, meet a legal obligation, or establish, exercise, or defend a legal claim;
  • to prevent or investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents, or unlawful activity;
  • to comply with law, regulation, a court order, or a lawful request from a competent authority;
  • to protect the rights, safety, and property of Nogyo Intel, our readers, or others; or
  • in connection with a legitimate reorganisation, transfer, or sale of all or part of the operation, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Where required, service providers are permitted to handle information only for the relevant service, under our instructions, or as otherwise allowed by law. Some providers may act as independent controllers for aspects of their services and publish their own privacy notices.

9. International transfers

Nogyo Intel operates from Japan, and our service providers may process information in Japan or other countries. Privacy protections in those countries may differ from those in your jurisdiction. Where required, we rely on lawful transfer mechanisms and safeguards made available for the relevant processing, which may include an adequacy decision, contractual protections, or another mechanism recognised by applicable law.

10. Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, security, accounting, and dispute-resolution needs. Our general criteria are:

  • Newsletter records: while you remain subscribed. After an unsubscribe request, we may retain a minimal suppression record for as long as necessary to honour that request and demonstrate compliance.
  • General enquiries: normally for up to 24 months after the last substantive interaction, unless a longer period is needed for an ongoing relationship, legal claim, or statutory record.
  • Comments: while the comment remains published and for a reasonable moderation, security, or legal period after removal.
  • Technical and security logs: according to the documented retention schedules of our hosting and security providers, and only for as long as reasonably necessary for security, troubleshooting, incident investigation, or legal compliance.
  • Consent and compliance records: for as long as needed to demonstrate compliance and manage your preferences.
  • Business and legal records: for the period required by applicable Japanese law or another applicable legal obligation.

Our providers may apply their own documented retention schedules. We delete, anonymise, or securely isolate information when it is no longer required, subject to technical backup cycles and legal obligations.

11. Security

We use reasonable organisational and technical measures designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure. These measures may include access controls, software maintenance, encrypted connections, backups, monitoring, and limiting access to those who need it. No internet service or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure.

12. Your privacy rights

Depending on applicable law and the circumstances, you may have rights to:

  • request information about how your personal information is handled;
  • request access to or a copy of your personal information;
  • request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
  • request deletion, erasure, suspension of use, or restriction of processing;
  • object to processing based on legitimate interests;
  • withdraw consent at any time, without affecting earlier lawful processing;
  • request portability of information you provided, where applicable;
  • opt out of direct marketing; and
  • lodge a complaint with a competent privacy or data-protection authority.

To exercise a right, email info [at] nogyo-intel [dot] com. We may need to verify your identity and clarify your request. Rights may be subject to legal limitations or exemptions, and we will explain our response where required.

13. Complaints

Please contact us first so that we can try to resolve your concern. You may also contact Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission. If the EU or UK GDPR applies to you, you may lodge a complaint with the data-protection authority in the country where you live, work, or believe an infringement occurred.

14. Children

The Site is intended for a professional and general adult audience and is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us so that we can review and, where appropriate, delete it.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, technology, providers, or legal obligations change. The “Last updated” date will show when the policy was most recently revised. Where a change materially affects how we use personal information, we will provide additional notice where required.

16. Contact

Nogyo Intel (Michael Watt)
Saitama, Japan
Email: info [at] nogyo-intel [dot] com

Privacy at a glance

  • We do not sell personal information.
  • Newsletter marketing requires your choice to subscribe.
  • You can unsubscribe at any time.
  • You may ask about, correct, or delete your information where applicable.

Privacy enquiries

Questions or requests about your personal information can be sent to:

info [at] nogyo-intel [dot] com

Nogyo Intel (Michael Watt)
Saitama, Japan