Terms of Use

Last updated: November 14, 2026

These Terms of Use (“these Terms”) set out the conditions for using The Buddha Today (the English edition of “きょうの仏教”; “the App”). By downloading or using the App, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

The App is operated by Seiya Sugimoto, an independent developer (“the developer” in these Terms). These Terms apply in addition to Apple's standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement. If they conflict, Apple's standard agreement prevails. Apple is not a party to these Terms and is not responsible for the App.

1. About the App

The App delivers one story recorded in the Buddhist texts each day, through a notification. In the English edition, the story text is taken from Bhikkhu Sujato's English translation of the Pali suttas (SuttaCentral, CC0) and is not rewritten in our own words. Longer stories are shortened, and each omission is marked with a note. Each story lists the source text it comes from and the translation used.

2. Nature of the content

• The story text in the App consists of excerpts from an existing English translation, chosen and shortened by the developer. It does not represent an official translation or interpretation by any Buddhist school or research institution.
• The sections “The Buddha's perspective,” “In daily life,” “Today's question,” and “One-minute practice” are written by the App's editors.
• The illustrations that accompany the stories were newly generated for the App.
• What you receive each morning is a synopsis. Each synopsis is written from the full story (the translation of the original text) and contains nothing that is not in it. You can open the full story with “Read the full story.”
• You can read 3 full stories a month for free. The count resets on the first of each month, Japan time. To read more, you need to subscribe to Premium, described in Section 4.

3. About the AI consult feature

“AI consult” is a feature in which, in response to a worry you write, an AI chooses one related story from the stories included in the App and shows how it connects to your situation in a short passage (the “bridge text”). In the English edition, the story is chosen only from the stories available in English.

• The story text included in the App has been checked in advance and is never generated by AI. The AI does only two things: “choose one matching story from the catalog” and “write the bridge text.”
• The bridge text is written by the AI each time and is different in nature from the story text, which has been checked by the developer. To the extent permitted by law, the developer does not guarantee the accuracy or appropriateness of the bridge text.
• AI consults are not a substitute for medical care, psychotherapy, or religious guidance. If what you write is determined to suggest self-harm or suicide, the AI does not respond, and the App shows you where to find help instead.
• You can use AI consults for free up to 3 times a month. The count resets on the first of each month, Japan time. To use more, you need to subscribe to Premium, described in Section 4.
• AI consults are intended for people aged 13 and over. If you are under 18, please use them only with the permission of a parent or guardian.

4. About Premium (subscription)

Premium is an auto-renewing subscription offered on the following terms.

• Monthly plan: renews automatically every month
• Annual plan: renews automatically every year
• The price of each plan is shown in the App Store and on the plan screen in the App before you purchase
• When you subscribe, you can read every story in full with no monthly limit, and use AI consults up to 100 times a month
• Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm your purchase
• The subscription renews automatically unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period
• The renewal charge is made within the 24 hours before the end of the current period
• After purchase, you can manage auto-renewal or cancel from Subscriptions in your device's Settings app, or from Settings in the App
• The App does not offer a free trial
• If you change devices or reinstall the App, you can restore your subscription status with “Restore purchases” in the App

5. About notifications

The App sends notifications at the times you set. Your device's notification permission is required to receive them. You can turn notifications off at any time in your device's Settings app.

6. Data storage and loss

The App's settings, reading history, ♡, notes, AI consult history, a record of which stories you have opened in full, and a record of which stories you had starred, hearted or noted before version 1.6.0 (the ones you can always read in full) are all stored on your device. In the following cases, this information may be lost. The developer cannot restore the data.

• If you uninstall the App
• If you reset your device or change devices
• If your device breaks down or is lost

Your subscription status is managed by Apple and our billing platform provider, so even in the cases above you can restore it with “Restore purchases.”

Switching the app language between English and Japanese in Settings does not delete any of this data.

7. Prohibited conduct

When using the App, you must not do any of the following.

• Copy, modify, or reverse engineer the App, except where the law allows it
• Redistribute the App or its content, or use them for commercial purposes
• Use the App in a way that breaks the law or harms others

8. Disclaimer

The App is a reading app for stories from the Buddhist texts and is provided “as is.” To the extent permitted by law, the developer does not guarantee that the App will be fit for any particular purpose, accurate, uninterrupted, or useful. The stories, “Today's question,” “One-minute practice,” and AI consult text are not advice, and the developer is not responsible for decisions or actions you take based on them.

Except in cases of the developer's intentional misconduct or gross negligence, the developer is not liable for any damage arising from your use of the App. Where the developer is liable for ordinary negligence, its total liability is limited to the total amount you paid for the App in the 12 months before the damage occurred.

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law, or takes away any rights you have as a consumer under the laws of the country where you live.

9. Changes to or end of the service

The developer may change the content of the App or stop providing it. If the service is going to end, we will let you know in advance in the App or on this site wherever possible. Subscription purchases are handled by Apple, so refund requests follow Apple's procedures; you can request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.

10. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms as needed. The revised Terms take effect when they are posted on this page, and the “Last updated” date above will change. If a change significantly affects your rights, we will also let you know in the App or on this site.

11. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan, and the Tokyo District Court has exclusive jurisdiction as the court of first instance for any dispute about them. This does not take away any protection you have under the mandatory consumer laws of the country where you live, including any right to bring proceedings in your local courts.

12. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please write to the email address on our Support page.