Privacy Policy

Last updated 15 September 2026

Buy Me a Matcha is an app for meeting people in Japan. This policy explains what we collect, why, where it's kept, and how to have it removed. We don't sell your data, and we don't show ads.

What we collect

When you create an account

Sign-in details: your email address, and whether you signed in with Apple, Google or email. If you use Sign in with Apple and hide your email, we only receive Apple's relay address.

Your profile

Your first name, date of birth, gender, the area of Tokyo you choose, why you're in Japan, the date you leave (if you're visiting), the languages you speak, your prompt answers and up to three photos.
Shown to other people: your name, age (never your date of birth), area, situation, how many days until you leave, languages, prompt answers and photos.
Never shown: your date of birth, your gender, your email address, and your "who you see" settings.

When you use the app

Who you sent a matcha to, who you passed on, and your matches.
Your messages and Matcha Plans (the place and time you propose).
People you block, and reports you make.
What you've bought, and how many matchas you have left. Payments are handled by Apple or Google; we never see your card.
A device token, so we can send notifications you've allowed, and which kinds you've switched on.
When you last opened the app, and which version and type of phone (iPhone or Android) you use.
Whether you said yes to news by email, and when.
If the app crashes, a crash report: the phone model, system version and what the app was doing. It contains nothing you wrote and no photos.

What we don't collect

We never use GPS or your precise location. Your area is only what you choose.
Phones often hide a location and camera details inside photos. We remove all of that from every photo you upload before anyone can see it.
We don't read your contacts, and we don't track you across other apps or websites.

Why we use it

To run the app: show you people, create matches, deliver messages and plans.
To keep people safe: enforce the rules, review reports, remove people who break them. Uploaded photos are checked automatically for explicit or violent content, and a few may be looked at by a person.
To provide what you bought, through Apple, Google and our payment provider RevenueCat.
To send notifications you've allowed. You can turn each kind off in the app (Settings → Notifications) or in your phone's settings.
To email you news and events, only if you said yes. Every such email says how to stop them, and you can turn them off any time in Settings → Notifications.
To understand how the app is used (for example, how many people opened it this week) so we can improve it.

Who else handles it

Google Firebase stores the app's data, photos and sign-in, on servers in Tokyo, Japan, and collects crash reports.
Google Cloud Vision checks uploaded photos for explicit or violent content. Google doesn't keep them.
Apple and Google handle sign-in (if you choose them), payments and notifications.
RevenueCat records purchases so we know what you're entitled to.
Resend delivers the emails we send, such as replies to your messages and news you asked for.

We share information with authorities only when the law requires it, or when someone's safety is at risk.

How long we keep it

For as long as your account exists. When you delete your account (You → Settings → Delete account), we delete your profile, photos, matches, messages and swipes. Reports you made about other people may be kept for safety reasons, without your profile attached. If an account was removed for breaking our rules, we keep a minimal record (a scrambled form of the email address and sign-in account, and the reason) so it can't simply be recreated. Backups are cleared within 30 days.

Your choices and rights

Edit your profile any time in the app.
Delete your account in the app, and everything above goes with it. If you can't open the app, email support@buymeamatcha.app from the address you signed up with and we'll delete it for you.
Stop news emails any time: reply to one, or switch off "News by email" in the app.
Ask us for a copy of your data, or ask any question about it, by writing to support@buymeamatcha.app.

We handle personal information under Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information, and we honour the same requests from people protected by other laws, such as the GDPR.

Age

Buy Me a Matcha is for people aged 18 and over. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone younger, and we remove accounts that belong to minors.

Changes

If this policy changes in a way that matters, we'll say so in the app before it takes effect.

Contact

support@buymeamatcha.app