Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit websites. These files are retrieved each time you return to a website and allow the website to recognize you and remember information about your previous visits.

Cookies serve various purposes including improving site functionality, tracking usage patterns, personalizing content, and enabling marketing features. They are a standard technology used across the internet and are not inherently harmful.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential Cookies

Essential cookies are necessary for our website to function properly. These cookies enable core functionality such as:

• User authentication and session management
• Security features and fraud detection
• Maintaining your preferences and settings
• Ensuring website stability and performance
• Cookie consent preferences

Essential cookies cannot be disabled as the website cannot function without them. These cookies do not require prior consent.

2.2 Analytics Cookies

Analytics cookies help us understand how users interact with our website. They collect information about:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Entry and exit points (referral sources)
• Clicks on links and buttons
• Search queries and content navigation patterns
• Device type and browser information
• Geographic location (city/country level)

We use analytics data to improve website usability, identify popular content, and enhance user experience. Analytics cookies are set by third-party services such as Google Analytics.

2.3 Marketing Cookies

Marketing cookies enable personalized advertising and promotional content. These cookies:

• Track your browsing behavior across websites
• Build interest profiles for targeted advertising
• Measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns
• Enable retargeting and remarketing features
• Track conversions and purchase behavior

Marketing cookies are typically set by advertising networks and third-party platforms. Disabling these cookies does not prevent advertising but makes it less relevant to your interests.

2.4 Preference Cookies

Preference cookies remember your choices and settings to enhance your experience on future visits. These include:

• Language and region preferences
• Display and layout preferences
• Content preferences and saved items
• Accessibility settings
• Theme preferences (light/dark mode)

3. How We Use Cookie Information

We use the information collected by cookies for the following purposes:

• Site Improvement: Analytics data helps us identify usability issues and improve website performance
• Personalization: Preference cookies allow us to customize content and interfaces based on your interests
• Security: Security-related cookies detect and prevent fraudulent activity
• Marketing: Marketing cookies enable targeted advertising relevant to your interests
• Performance Optimization: We track technical metrics to optimize website speed and reliability
• Research: Aggregate cookie data contributes to research and statistical analysis

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are set by third-party services that provide functionality or services on our behalf. These include:

• Google Analytics: Tracks user behavior and traffic patterns to help us understand website usage
• Payment Processors: Track transactions and payment information for processing purchases
• Advertising Networks: Enable targeted advertising and campaign tracking
• Social Media Platforms: Allow integration with social media and tracking of social interactions
• Content Delivery Networks: Optimize content delivery and performance

Third-party services are bound by their own privacy policies and terms. We are not responsible for their cookie practices, though we require them to maintain appropriate security and privacy standards.

5. Cookie Duration

Cookies remain on your device for varying durations:

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a specified duration (typically 1-2 years) or until manually deleted
• Preference Cookies: Generally last 1 year unless you change your preferences
• Analytics Cookies: Typically last 6-24 months
• Marketing Cookies: Often last 13 months or longer depending on advertiser practices

6. Your Cookie Choices

6.1 Cookie Banner Controls

When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie banner allowing you to:

• Accept All: Accept all cookies including non-essential ones
• Reject Non-Essential: Accept only essential cookies, rejecting analytics and marketing cookies
• Customize: Select which non-essential cookie categories to accept

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by revisiting the cookie banner or your account settings.

6.2 Browser Controls

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

• Block all cookies
• Allow only certain types of cookies
• Clear existing cookies
• Set cookie preferences for specific websites

Please note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality and your user experience. We recommend allowing at least essential cookies for optimal performance.

6.3 Opt-Out Tools

For marketing and analytics cookies specifically, you may use third-party opt-out tools:

• Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Opt-Out Tool
• Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) Opt-Out Tool
• Your browser's "Do Not Track" feature (if supported)

7. Consent and Compliance

Frosted Star Forge complies with applicable cookie laws and regulations including but not limited to:

• Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) in Japan
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EU/EEA users
• ePrivacy Directive for electronic communications
• Other applicable regional privacy laws

We obtain explicit consent for non-essential cookies before they are placed on your device. Essential cookies that are strictly necessary for website function are exempt from consent requirements under most jurisdictions.

8. Cookie Security

We implement the following security measures for cookies:

• Secure flag prevents transmission over unencrypted connections
• HttpOnly flag prevents access by JavaScript, reducing vulnerability to cross-site scripting attacks
• SameSite attributes prevent unsolicited cross-site cookie transmission
• Encryption of sensitive cookie data
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments

9. International Users

If you access our website from outside Japan, your cookies will still be subject to this Cookie Policy. However, additional privacy regulations may apply to your jurisdiction. If you are in the EU/EEA, your data is protected under GDPR with additional legal safeguards.

10. Cookie Updates

We may modify our cookie practices and update this policy periodically. The "Last Updated" date indicates when this policy was last revised. We will notify you of material changes through email or prominent website notice. Continued use of our website following such updates constitutes acceptance of the modified policy.

11. Local Storage and Similar Technologies

Beyond cookies, we may use other client-side storage technologies including:

• Local Storage: Stores data persistently on your device
• Session Storage: Stores data for the duration of your session
• Web Beacons: Invisible pixels that track page views and user actions
• Fingerprinting: Collects device characteristics for tracking purposes

These technologies serve similar purposes to cookies and are subject to similar privacy and consent principles.

12. Cookie Examples

Common cookies we use include:

• ryujin-cookie-consent: Stores your cookie preference choices
• session-id: Maintains your login session
• _ga and _gid: Google Analytics tracking
• user-preferences: Your personalized website settings
• tracking-id: Identifies your interactions for analytics

13. Disabling Cookies - Impact on Services

Disabling non-essential cookies will not prevent access to our website, but it may affect functionality:

• You may not receive personalized content recommendations
• Your preferences and settings may not be remembered
• Analytics data will not be collected (for your visits)
• You may see less relevant advertising
• Website performance may be suboptimal

Essential cookies cannot and should not be disabled as they are required for basic website functionality.

14. Deletion of Cookies

You can delete cookies stored on your device at any time through your browser settings. You can typically:

• Clear all cookies from all websites
• Delete cookies from a specific website
• Set your browser to automatically clear cookies when you close it
• Use browser extensions or tools to manage cookies

Deleting cookies will not prevent them from being set again on future visits unless you adjust your browser settings or cookie preferences.

15. Responsible Cookie Use

Frosted Star Forge is committed to responsible cookie practices:

• We use cookies only for legitimate purposes
• We minimize the amount of data collected
• We do not sell cookie data to third parties
• We maintain transparent cookie disclosures
• We comply with all applicable privacy regulations
• We provide clear consent mechanisms and opt-out options

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about our cookie practices or wish to exercise your rights regarding cookies, please contact us:

Frosted Star Forge
Email: info@frostedstarforge.com
Phone: +81 48-940-9320
Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0001, Japan

We will respond to cookie-related inquiries within 10 business days.