Privacy Policy

Global Privacy Policy of Kao Group Companies

Kao group companies worldwide (collectively the “Kao Group”) utilize personal information of stakeholders (consumers, business partners, shareholders, investors, employees, etc.) through business activities. The Kao Group recognize that it is their important responsibility to properly manage and protect personal information in order to live up to the trust of those who have provided it to us. In order to fulfill the above responsibilities, the Kao Group will comply with laws and regulations, and will strive to appropriately manage and protect personal information in accordance with this policy.

  1. Acquisition and use of personal information
    The Kao Group will acquire personal information through legal and fair means and will use personal information within the scope of the stated purpose of use.

  2. Appropriate management and protection of personal information
    The Kao Group shall regard personal information as confidential information, implement the necessary security control measures, and appropriately manage and protect personal information until the purpose of use is achieved.

  3. Third party provision/disclosure
    The Kao Group will not provide or disclose personal information to third parties without the consent of the individual, except as required by law.

  4. Responding to inquiries and complaints regarding personal information, etc.
    The Kao Group will respond sincerely and promptly to inquiries and complaints regarding personal information.

  5. Review and improvement of handling of personal information, etc.
    The Kao Group will review handling of personal information from time to time and make continuous improvements to further protect personal information.

January 1, 2024 Establishment

Privacy Policy of Kao Group Companies in Japan

Kao group companies in Japan (“Kao Group Companies”) use personal information collected from consumers and business partners (collectively, “Customers”) for various purposes, including the development and promotion of better products and services to satisfy Customers. Kao Group Companies recognize that properly managing and protecting personal information is an important responsibility, which is necessary for preserving the trust that Customers have placed in the Kao Group Companies. To fulfill this responsibility, Kao Group Companies comply with all laws and regulations concerning the protection of personal information (“Personal Information Protection Laws”), and work to properly manage and protect personal information in accordance with this Policy.
Kao Group Companies also recognize that properly managing and protecting Individual Number and personal information containing Individual Number (collectively, “Specific Personal Information Etc.”) is an important responsibility. To fulfill this responsibility, Kao Group Companies comply with all laws and regulations concerning protection of Specific Personal Information Etc. (Individual Number Laws), and work to properly manage and protect Specific Personal Information Etc. in accordance with this Policy.

1. Use of Personal Information and Specific Personal Information Etc. (collectively, “Personal Information Etc.”)

Kao Group Companies will use Customers' Personal Information Etc. only for the purposes disclosed to Customers at the time such information is collected, and within the scope of use posted on Kao Corporation's web site (the Scope of Use) and will not use the information for any other purpose.

2. Proper Management and Protection of Personal Information Etc.

Kao Group Companies have implemented the following measures to properly manage and protect Customers' Personal Information Etc.:

  • Establishment of an organization to promote protection of all Personal Information Etc. held by Kao Group Companies as a whole, and appointment of personal information controllers in each of Kao Group Companies and each division that handles Personal Information Etc.;
  • Establishment of internal company rules based on Personal Information Protection Laws, Individual Number Laws, and ministry guidelines concerning the handling of personal information;
  • Education of employees and others concerned to ensure that they understand the importance of protection of Personal Information Etc. and are thoroughly familiar with all relevant rules and guidelines;
  • Establishment of a personal information management register and enforcement of appropriate restrictions on access to Personal Information Etc.; and
  • Implementation of appropriate and reasonable security measures to prevent unauthorized access to, or leakage, destruction or alteration of, Personal Information Etc.

3. Provision and Disclosure to Third Parties

Kao Group Companies will not provide or disclose Customers' personal information to third parties except in the following cases:

  • Prior consent has been obtained from the Customer whose personal information is to be disclosed;
  • Disclosure is required by law;
  • The information is provided or disclosed to a service provider in compliance with the Scope of Use (please see Article 4 below);
  • In cases of shared use among Kao Group Companies; and
  • The personal information is provided in connection with business succession due to merger, spin-off or otherwise.

Kao Group Companies will not provide or disclose Customers' Specific Personal Information Etc. to third parties except in the following cases:

  • Disclosure is required by law;
  • The information is provided or disclosed to a service provider in compliance with the Scope of Use (please see Article 4 below); and
  • The Specific Personal Information Etc. is provided in connection with business succession due to merger, spin-off or otherwise.

4. Control of Service Providers

Kao Group Companies occasionally consign the handling of Personal Information Etc. to outside service providers. Only service providers who have been confirmed to have the capability of properly handling Personal Information Etc. will be selected. Moreover, Kao Group Companies provide and disclose Customers' Personal Information Etc. to such service providers strictly in compliance with the Scope of Use, and require them, by written contracts or similar means, to properly handle Personal Information Etc., and periodically verify their compliance.

5. Response to Confirmation, Revision and Other Requests Concerning Personal Information Etc.

When a Customer requests confirmation, revision (correction, addition or deletion), cessation of use or removal of his/her Personal Information Etc., Kao Group Companies will, upon verifying such Customer's identity, comply with the request, unless there is a reasonable basis to refuse.

6. Response to Comments and Complaints Concerning Handling of Personal Information Etc.

Kao Group Companies will make every effort to deal with any comment or complaint concerning use of Customers' Personal Information Etc. in a prompt and appropriate manner.

7. Cookies

Kao Group Companies use cookies on web pages to improve websites, including enhancing information and services provided and making websites easier to use, and, on some web pages, to authenticate membership for login, customize the service contents or distribute advertising based on browsing history. A cookie is an electronic file that is transmitted from a particular web page to a browser viewing that page, which can be retrieved later to distinguish a user's computer.

Kao Group Companies also use a system operated by a provider other than Kao Group Companies for use of cookies. For more details, see here.

You can disable or delete cookies in your browser settings. However, this makes certain services, including services requiring login, unavailable to you.

8. Review and Improvement of Handling of Personal Information Etc.

This Policy may be revised from time to time as necessary to reflect the Kao Group Companies’ continuous efforts to improve the protection of Personal Information Etc. Accordingly, this Policy is subject to change without prior notice.

Kao Corporation
Kao Group Customer Marketing Co., Ltd.
Kao Beauty Brands Counseling Co., Ltd.
Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.
e'quipe Ltd.
Nivea-Kao Co., Ltd.
Kao Professional Services Co., Ltd.
Kiralia Hygiene Co., Ltd.
Kao-Quaker Co., Ltd.
Kao Sanitary Products Ehime Co., Ltd.
Kao Cosmetic Products Odawara Co., Ltd.
Kao Paper Manufacturing Fuji Co., Ltd.
Kao Logistics Co., Ltd.
Kao System Logistics Co., Ltd.
Kao Business Associe Co., Ltd.
Kao Peony Co., Ltd.
Kao Salon Japan Co., Ltd.
Molton Brown Japan Ltd.
The Kao Foundation For Arts And Sciences
Kao Health Insurance
Kao Group Corporate Pension Fund
Kao Life-in-Harmony Foundation

November 29, 2023 Revised

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