Privacy Policy

1. Operator

Menu Translator Documentation ("Menu Translator") is operated by Norimasa Nakamura, trading as NEXT BASE-Japan ("NEXTBASE," "we," "us," or "our"). Privacy questions may be sent to info@nextbase-japan.com.

2. Purpose of the app

Menu Translator helps a user understand a foreign-language restaurant menu by taking a photograph, recognizing visible menu text, translating supported text into the user’s preferred language, detecting supported prices, and showing an estimated conversion into a currency associated with the user’s device region.

The app is an informational travel aid. It does not guarantee translation accuracy, menu completeness, current restaurant pricing, exchange-rate accuracy, allergy safety, dietary suitability, or the final amount charged by a restaurant.

3. Camera and menu images

The app requests Camera access so the user can photograph a menu. Menu images are used for recognition and result generation. The initial version is designed not to upload menu images to NEXTBASE servers or third-party translation services, and NEXTBASE does not create a menu-photo history through the core workflow.

A menu image may remain temporarily in device memory while recognition, translation, price detection, and result display are completed. The app does not require Photo Library access for its core workflow unless a future user-requested save function is separately introduced and disclosed.

4. On-device text recognition and translation

Menu text recognition is designed to use Apple system frameworks on the device. Translation is designed to use Apple’s Translation framework and downloaded language resources when supported and available. Recognized menu text and translated menu text are not intentionally sent by NEXTBASE to an external translation API or stored on a NEXTBASE server.

Apple system software, downloaded language resources, diagnostics, and operating-system services are governed by Apple’s terms and privacy practices. Translation availability may depend on the device, iOS version, supported language pair, downloaded resources, and network access needed by the operating system.

5. Price detection and currency conversion

The app may detect currency symbols, codes, and numerical prices from recognized menu text. Conversion calculations are performed on the device using exchange-rate information retrieved from an external foreign-exchange information service.

The current implementation may request public exchange-rate data from Frankfurter. The exchange-rate request is designed to contain currency-related query information only. NEXTBASE does not intentionally send menu images, recognized menu text, translated text, dish names, location information, contact information, or Apple Account information to the exchange-rate provider.

Exchange-rate data may be cached on the device for a limited time, currently up to approximately one hour. When current data cannot be retrieved, the app may use a previously cached rate and indicate that it is a previous rate or show the rate timestamp. If no usable rate is available, currency conversion may be unavailable.

6. No account, location, or menu history

The initial version does not require a NEXTBASE account or login. It is not designed to request location information, access contacts, build a menu history, create a dining profile, or track restaurants visited.

7. Free-use counter

The app stores a local usage counter to determine whether the first three successful results have been used. A successful result is counted only when the required recognition, translation, supported price detection, currency conversion, and result display complete successfully. Failed or cancelled attempts are not intended to consume a free use.

Because the counter is local and no NEXTBASE account is required, reinstalling the app, restoring a device, or changing devices may affect the counter. NEXTBASE does not use this counter to identify the user across unrelated apps or services.

8. Purchases and StoreKit

Premium access is offered through Apple’s StoreKit as an auto-renewable subscription. Apple processes payments, purchase history, refunds, renewal status, and subscription management. NEXTBASE does not receive full payment-card details.

The app may receive product identifiers, transaction identifiers, entitlement status, expiration information, and other StoreKit information necessary to provide or restore Premium access. Apple’s privacy terms apply to Apple Account and App Store processing.

9. External communications

The core version is designed to limit external communication to:

• retrieving public foreign-exchange rate information;
• StoreKit and App Store purchase verification and restoration;
• operating-system services initiated or controlled by Apple; and
• support communications voluntarily initiated by the user.

The app is not designed to transmit menu photographs or recognized menu content to NEXTBASE or an external translation provider.

10. Analytics, advertising, and tracking

The initial version is not designed to include advertising, cross-app advertising tracking, a NEXTBASE analytics account, or sale of personal information. If diagnostic, crash-reporting, analytics, or advertising technology is added later, this Policy and the App Store privacy disclosures must be updated before release of that change.

Apple may provide aggregated or diagnostic information according to the user’s device settings and Apple’s privacy practices.

11. Support communications

If the user contacts support, NEXTBASE may receive the email address, message, device and app information voluntarily provided, and any attachments included by the user. Users should avoid sending photographs of menus, payment information, travel documents, health information, or other sensitive information unless necessary for the support request.

12. Retention and deletion

NEXTBASE does not intentionally retain menu images, recognized menu text, translations, detected prices, or currency results on a NEXTBASE server through the core workflow. Temporary in-memory content is discarded according to app and operating-system behavior after processing or when the workflow is restarted.

Locally cached exchange rates and the local free-use counter may remain until replaced, cleared by the app or operating system, or removed through app deletion or device changes. Support correspondence may be retained only as long as reasonably necessary to resolve the request, comply with law, prevent abuse, and maintain business records.

13. Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical measures for information we receive. No device, network request, software process, or storage method can be guaranteed completely secure. Users should avoid photographing confidential menus, personal documents, payment cards, or unrelated sensitive material.

14. Children

Menu Translator is not directed to children below the minimum age at which they may independently consent to data processing in their jurisdiction. The app does not require an account and does not intentionally create a behavioral profile through the core workflow.

15. International users

The app may be available internationally. Privacy rights and mandatory protections vary by jurisdiction. Users may contact NEXTBASE regarding access, correction, deletion, restriction, or other applicable privacy rights concerning information held by NEXTBASE.

16. Changes

We may update this Policy when the app, data practices, providers, or legal requirements change. The updated date will appear at the top of this page. Material changes will be communicated as required by applicable law.

17. Contact

NEXT BASE-Japan
Operator: Norimasa Nakamura
Email: info@nextbase-japan.com
Typical response time: 3–5 business days.