Terms of use

The service

Rakuko helps you learn a language by reading: a library of pieces at measured levels, a dictionary, and a review system for the words you save.

It is provided as it is. We work to keep it running and accurate, but we cannot promise it will always be available, that every dictionary entry or level is right, or that it will suit a particular purpose such as an exam.

Your account

Keep your sign-in details to yourself; you are responsible for what happens under your account. You can stop using the app and delete your account at any time.

We may suspend an account that is used to break these terms or to harm the service or other people.

Using the library

Do not use the app to copy material for redistribution, to overload it with automated requests, or to get around how it limits access to anything.

If you believe something in the app infringes your rights, write to the address at the bottom of this page and we will look into it and remove it where appropriate.

The library and the dictionary

Pieces in the library come from public-domain and openly licensed sources, from sources that permit reuse (such as VOA Learning English and the Japan Meteorological Agency), or were written for this app, some adapted or translated from openly licensed science and news writing. Each is credited on the piece. The dictionary is JMdict, the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, used under its licence. The English word lists are the New General Service List and the TOEIC Service List by Browne, Culligan and Phillips (newgeneralservicelist.com), CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The JLPT word lists are Jonathan Waller's (tanos.co.uk), CC BY, by way of open-anki-jlpt-decks.

This service uses the JMdict dictionary files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, and are used in conformance with the Group's licence (www.edrdg.org/edrdg/licence.html).

Cover pictures come from Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia; who made each one, and its licence, is on the Picture credits page, linked from your account page.

英検 (Eiken) is a registered trademark of the Eiken Foundation of Japan, TOEIC is a registered trademark of ETS, and JLPT is administered by the Japan Foundation and JEES. They are named only to describe reading levels; Rakuko is not affiliated with, endorsed or approved by any of them, and its levels are estimates, not official ones.

The Japanese translations of the app's own pieces are written by hand. Articles from other sources are not translated.

Changes and ending

We may change the app and these terms. If a change matters, we will say so in the app before it takes effect. If the service is ever closed, we will give notice in the app beforehand.

Plans and payment

A free account can read a selection of the easiest pieces in the library, and review flashcards of the words it meets and of the most common words. A subscription opens the rest of the library and every flashcard deck. The price and billing period are shown before you pay.

A subscription renews automatically at the end of each period until you cancel it. You can cancel any time from your account page; you keep access until the end of the period you have paid for. Payments are not refunded for part of a period, except where the law requires it.

Payments are processed by Stripe. If a payment fails, Stripe will try again for a short time before the subscription ends.