Terms of Use

Last updated: October 27, 2026

These terms set out the ground rules for using velvetpinehorizon.com ("the site"), a free reading site run by Velvet Pine Horizon ("we", "us"). By using the site you agree to them. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.

What the site offers

The site publishes twelve articles on mindfulness, sustainable living, everyday wellness and creative expression, a topic quiz that suggests an article to read, a newsletter sign-up and a contact form. It is free to use. It does not sell goods or services, take payments, offer coaching or consultations, or provide any individual advice.

General information, not advice

Everything on the site is general information written for readers in general. It is not medical, psychological, nutritional, legal, financial or any other professional advice, and it does not diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. Habits such as meditation, journaling, movement or changes to what you eat suit some people and not others. Before you change your routine in a way that could affect your health, and whenever you are worried about your health or mood, talk to a doctor or another qualified professional. Please also read our Disclaimer.

Using the site

You may read the pages, follow the links and use the forms for your own personal, non-commercial purposes. You agree not to:

• copy, republish, sell or distribute our articles or images, other than short quotations with a clear credit and a link back to the page;
• try to break, overload or gain unauthorized access to the site or the systems behind it;
• use the forms to send spam, advertising, malware, or anything unlawful, abusive or misleading;
• send us personal information about another person without that person's agreement;
• pretend to be someone else or to speak for Velvet Pine Horizon.

Forms and messages

The contact and newsletter forms are passed to our mailbox by a third-party service, FormSubmit. Sending a form does not create a contract, a client relationship or a promise of a reply. We read messages as time allows and cannot promise an answer or a reply time. Joining the newsletter list is free, and you can ask to be removed at any time by email. How we handle what you send is explained in our Privacy Policy.

Copyright and images

The text, layout and design of the site belong to Velvet Pine Horizon or are used with permission, and they are protected by copyright. The photographs on the site are illustrations chosen to accompany the articles. They are not pictures of the operator, of any staff, or of any particular event, and the people or places in them have no connection to us. Product names, organizations and trademarks mentioned belong to their owners.

Links to other sites

The About page lists a few outside organizations for further reading. We are not affiliated with them, they have not reviewed or endorsed our articles, and we are not responsible for their content, accuracy or privacy practices. A link is not a recommendation of everything on the linked site.

Accuracy and availability

We take care over the articles but do not promise that they are complete, current or free of mistakes. If you notice something wrong, please email us and we will look at it. We may change, move or remove pages, or stop running the site, at any time and without notice, and we do not guarantee that the site will always be available or free of errors.

Limits on our responsibility

You use the site and act on its contents at your own judgment and risk. To the fullest extent Japanese law allows, we are not liable for loss or damage that results from using the site or relying on an article, from the unavailability of the site, or from the content or conduct of third parties such as FormSubmit or Google. Nothing in these terms limits any liability that cannot lawfully be limited, including liability for our intentional or grossly negligent acts under the Consumer Contract Act where it applies.

Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The date at the top shows the latest version, and continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.

Reporting a problem with the content

If you believe that something on the site infringes your rights, is unlawful or is wrong, please email us with the page address, a description of the problem and a way to contact you. We will look into it as soon as we reasonably can and will correct or remove the content where that is warranted.

If part of these terms does not apply

If any provision of these terms turns out to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions stay in effect. Together with the Privacy Policy, the Cookie Policy and the Disclaimer, these terms are the whole agreement between you and us about using the site. If we do not enforce a right straight away, that does not mean we have given it up.

Governing law and courts

These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. If a dispute about the site or these terms cannot be settled by talking it through, the Akita District Court (or the Akita Summary Court, depending on the amount in dispute) is the court of first instance with exclusive jurisdiction, as far as the law permits.

Contact

Velvet Pine Horizon
1-10-11 Sanno, Akita, Akita 010-0951, Japan
Email: info@velvetpinehorizon.com
Phone: +81 18-374-5122