Question 1

What is Zutsu Note?

Accepted Answer

Zutsu Note is a free online headache diary app made in Japan by a headache specialist. "Zutsu" is Japanese for "headache." You can easily keep a headache diary (also called a headache log or journal) right from your phone. It has the tools you need to manage headaches: a headache log, pressure forecasts, and a way to connect with your clinic.

Question 2

What is a headache diary? Why is logging important?

Accepted Answer

A headache diary is a daily log of when your headaches happen, how bad the pain is, how long it lasts, what medication you take, how you sleep, the weather, and more. Keeping a log over time makes your headache patterns and triggers clearer. Your doctor can use it to make an accurate diagnosis (such as migraine or tension-type headache) and decide on a treatment plan. Zutsu Note makes it easy to keep this log on your phone, and it turns your data into stats automatically.

Question 3

Can I use it to log migraine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it works well for logging migraine. You can log pain level, duration, location, accompanying symptoms (such as nausea and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell), and medication (triptans, pain relievers). It automatically calculates your monthly headache days (MHD). It also helps you track headache-related scores such as MIDAS and MIBS-4, and follow your progress on preventive medication.

Question 4

How is Zutsu Note different from other headache apps and headache diary apps?

Accepted Answer

What makes Zutsu Note different is that your logs go straight to your doctor's screen during your visit. You don't need to show a paper headache diary or your phone, and it works for telehealth visits too. It's also completely free and made by a headache specialist, which sets it apart from other headache diary apps.

Question 5

Is it really free? Are there any extra charges?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Logging, statistics, sharing with your doctor, and every other feature are free. Zutsu Note is supported by ads from Google in the iPhone and Android apps. We never share what you record with advertising companies.

Question 6

Who develops Zutsu Note?

Accepted Answer

Zutsu Note is developed by Dr. Maekawa, a board-certified neurologist and headache specialist who is also a full-stack engineer. Dr. Maekawa has also built medical systems for large hospitals and works at the intersection of healthcare and IT.

Question 7

Where does the pressure forecast data come from?

Accepted Answer

We get barometric pressure, temperature, and weather data from the Open-Meteo API. Your area is based on the ZIP code you entered. On the pressure card, choose "Use current location forecast" to switch to the forecast for where you are.

Question 8

What can I log in my headache diary?

Accepted Answer

You can log whether you had a headache, pain level (0–10), and time of day. You can also log symptoms such as warning signs, nausea, or sensitivity to light, sound, or smells; acute medication (such as pain relievers or triptans) and how well it worked; preventive medication; impact on daily life, such as work or school; and sleep, mood, stress, period, alcohol, caffeine, and more. You enter everything by tapping.

Question 9

What do I need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

You need your name, date of birth, sex, email address, and a password. ZIP code is optional. If you enter it, you'll see the pressure forecast for your area. Setting your clinic is also optional, and you can do it later in Account.

Question 10

Can I track headaches for my family and kids too?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can use family accounts. In Account, go to "Family accounts" to create an account for a family member, such as your child (or link an account they already have). Then you can switch accounts just by tapping the name at the top of the screen. Logs, stats, and points are kept completely separate for each account, and sharing with your doctor is set up separately for each account. Accounts for minors should be created and managed with a parent or guardian's consent.

Question 11

Can I create a family account if my child doesn't have an email address?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can use your own email address with "+family" added (for example, mama+family@gmail.com; use +family2 for a second child) as your child's login ID. Emails to your child will then go straight to your inbox. The setup screen fills in an address in this format for you, so you can create the account as is. (You can also change it to your child's own email address.)

Question 12

If I unlink family accounts, will my data be deleted?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlinking only means you can no longer switch between accounts. Each account and its logs stay as they are. After unlinking, you can still log in to each account separately with its own email and password. If you link them again, you can switch again.

Question 13

Can I use it if my clinic doesn't use Zutsu Note?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can use all features. For a visit, go to Account > "My info" > "Headache history" and tap "View visit summary." You can print (or save as a PDF) a one-page summary of your background and stats for the last 30 days and give it to your doctor. If your clinic uses Zutsu Note, just add it as your clinic and your logs will be shared automatically.

Question 14

Who can see my logs?

Accepted Answer

Only you, the staff at the practice you set as your clinic, and family members linked through a family account can see your logs. Posts you make on Zutsu Post (including log cards for days you choose to share) are visible to other people who use the app. No one else can see your logs.

Question 15

What is my ZIP code used for?

Accepted Answer

We use it to get the barometric pressure forecast for your area (if you allow location access, we use the pressure where you are instead). Because we don't show ads in some states, we also use it to decide whether to show ads. We don't use it to find your address.

Question 16

Can I export my data?

Accepted Answer

At the bottom of the "Stats" tab, under "Save all logs," tap the "Excel" or "CSV" button. This saves all your logs as an Excel or CSV file. If your clinic uses Zutsu Note, your doctor can see your logs directly at your visit.

Question 17

What if I forget my password?

Accepted Answer

On the login screen, click "Forgot your password?" and enter the email address you registered with. We'll send you an email to reset your password.

Question 18

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

You can delete it yourself in Account settings. When you delete your account, your account and logs are deleted immediately and cannot be restored. (If you agreed to take part in research, we keep only your logs, in a form that cannot identify you.)

Question 19

Can I add it to my phone's home screen?

Accepted Answer

On iPhone and iPad, you can install the app from the App Store. On Android, get it from Google Play. On a computer, open the web version (PWA) in your browser and choose "Add to Home Screen" from the menu to use it like an app.

Question 20

Can I hide the character and points?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can turn them off. In Account > "Mode," choose "Simple" to hide the character (Maple), the Maple tab, and points. The pressure card also becomes a calm, graph-only view without sky or seasonal pictures, so you won't feel awkward opening the app in public. Points keep adding up in the background, so if you switch back to "Raise the character," you can use them right away. You can also choose this during setup when you first sign up.

Question 21

What is Zutsu Post?

Accepted Answer

Zutsu Post is a place where people who use Zutsu Note can post and reply about headaches. Open it from the "Zutsu Post" tab at the bottom. You join with a nickname, and your real name and email address are not shown. You can add your state to your posts and change this anytime by editing your profile. You can also post with that day's log card by tapping "Share to Zutsu Post" above the Save button in your diary (medicine names are not shown). Zutsu Post doesn't have private messaging.

Question 22

What if I see an upsetting post on Zutsu Post?

Accepted Answer

Tap the "…" menu on the post and choose "Report post." Our team will review it and hide or remove it if needed. You can also choose "Block" from the same menu to stop seeing that person's posts. To unblock, go to Edit profile. We also automatically hold back posts that are abusive or suggest someone's life may be at risk.

Question 23

Will I get a notification when the pressure drops?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In Account, go to "Settings & more" > "Push notifications" and turn on "Pressure sharp drop alert" and "Pressure sharp rise alert." When barometric pressure is forecast to drop or rise sharply, we'll notify you at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 3 p.m., or 9 p.m. (up to 3 times a day, and never from 11 p.m. through 5:59 a.m.). You can turn each alert on or off separately. We use the location the app received in the last 7 days. If there isn't one, we use the ZIP code you entered.

Question 24

What is the real-time headache map?

Accepted Answer

This page shows a map of the share of people who have a headache right now in each state. You can open it from the pressure page or the detailed weather screen in the app. When you tap "I have a headache now," your state, the time, and the barometric pressure in your area are logged and added to the map. Nothing is shown in a way that could identify you. You can add a short note if you like. We review it before it appears on the map.

Question 25

Can I darken the screen or make the text bigger?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In Account, go to "Settings & more." Under "Screen brightness," choose "Light," "Dark," or "Match device." Under "Text size," choose "Standard," "Large," or "Extra large." Settings are saved on each device.

Question 26

Can I connect it to Apple Health or Google Health Connect?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in the iPhone and Android apps (not the web version). Go to Account > "Settings & more" > "Health app sync" and turn it on. Your steps, sleep, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability are imported so you can see them next to your headache logs. Sleep and heart rate require a device such as an Apple Watch. You can turn syncing off anytime with the switch. To erase imported data, tap "Delete imported data" in the same place. Your headache logs and account will stay.

Question 27

What is research data sharing?

Accepted Answer

It means you agree to let us use your logs for headache research (conference presentations and papers), with anything that could identify you removed. You'll see a confirmation screen once after you sign up, and you can use every feature even if you don't agree. You can change this anytime in Account under "Settings & more" > "Research data sharing." If you withdraw, your data won't be used in any new research after that.

Question 28

Does it cost anything to register a practice?

Accepted Answer

Zutsu Note is free for practices. Core features such as headache diary sharing, progress notes, and stats have no setup or monthly fees. We don't want cost to be a barrier, so we focus on getting more clinics and patients to use it.

Question 29

Why is it free? Will patients see ads?

Accepted Answer

Zutsu Note is free for both patients and clinics. It's supported by Google ads in the patient apps. Ads appear on the same terms whether or not a patient has linked a clinic, and they aren't shown in some states or to children under 13. Google chooses the ads, not us or any doctor. We never share patients' logs with advertising companies.

Question 30

Where is patient data stored and processed?

Accepted Answer

Patient logs are stored in a database in Japan (AWS Tokyo Region), and the app's servers also run in Japan (Tokyo). Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Some processing, such as reading medication handbooks, uses providers outside Japan (see Sections 5 and 6 of the Privacy Policy).

Question 31

How can I view my patients' data?

Accepted Answer

When a patient sets your practice as their clinic, they appear automatically in your practice's patient list. You can view their headache diary and stats in real time. You can paste summaries (last 30 days, since the last visit, or by month) into your EHR with the "Copy" button.

Question 32

Can my practice add anything to a patient's log?

Accepted Answer

In "Progress notes" on the patient details screen, you can record the diagnosis (ICHD-3), assessment scores, medications, and more for each visit date. You can also add medications to a patient's medication list, enter scores such as MIDAS and MIBS-4, and ask patients to fill in scores. If you enter the next appointment date, the patient gets a notification the night before: "Your visit is tomorrow."

Question 33

What happens if a patient removes your practice as their clinic?

Accepted Answer

The patient will be removed from your practice's patient list. You will no longer be able to view their logs, including past ones. Patients can unlink at any time; it's their choice. Please record any information you need in the medical chart at each visit.

Question 34

Are ads shown on practice screens?

Accepted Answer

No. Practice screens don't show ads.

Question 35

Can multiple staff members use it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each practice has one shared account, so all staff use the same ID and password.

Question 36

Can patients be assigned to different doctors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With doctor management, you can add the doctors at your practice and assign patients to each one. This works well even for practices with several doctors.

Question 37

Do you have materials to help me tell patients about the app?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On your practice's Account page, go to "Patient guides" > "Sign-up guide." There you can get a sign-up link and QR code unique to your practice, a flyer to post in your office (A4, printable), and a banner for your website. Patients who sign up from this link or QR code will automatically have your practice set as their clinic.

Question 38

Can the data be used for research?

Accepted Answer

On your practice's Account page, use "Export headache log data" to export headache logs and progress notes as Excel or CSV, with patient names replaced by "Patient 1," "Patient 2," and so on. You can use them for conference presentations and research. (Your practice is responsible for research procedures, such as ethics review at your institution.)

Question 39

Where is my data stored?

Accepted Answer

Your data is stored in a database on Supabase (AWS Tokyo region). All connections are encrypted with TLS, and stored data is also encrypted at the storage level.

Question 40

How is my email address managed and protected?

Accepted Answer

The email address you sign up with is managed by our sign-in system (Supabase Auth) and stored in an encrypted database. We use it only to verify your account, reset your password, and send important notices by email. We don't use it for anything else.

Question 41

Will my email address ever be shared with third parties?

Accepted Answer

No, except with our email delivery provider (Resend) and, if you sign up as a supporter, our payment processor (Stripe). We never provide it to ad networks, marketing companies, data brokers, or similar businesses. We also don't send email addresses to analytics tools (such as Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity).

Question 42

How are passwords stored?

Accepted Answer

We never store passwords in plain text. Our authentication service (Supabase Auth) one-way hashes them with an industry-standard algorithm, so no one, including our developers, can recover them. Even if someone accessed the database directly, your actual password wouldn't be exposed.

Question 43

Is my personal information recorded by error monitoring tools?

Accepted Answer

We use Sentry for error monitoring. Before any data is sent, personal and health information is removed. Email addresses, names, phone numbers, tokens, and similar data are masked automatically and are not saved in error logs. Screen recording (Session Replay) is turned off.

Question 44

What personal information do you collect?

Accepted Answer

To create an account, we need your name, date of birth, sex, and email address (ZIP code is optional). We also handle your headache logs, any background info you choose to enter (such as your job or health conditions), and your location and health data if you allow it. We don't collect your full address, phone number, or My Number (Japan's ID number). For details, see our Privacy Policy.

Question 45

Could I ever see patient data from other clinics?

Accepted Answer

No. We use Row Level Security (RLS) at the database level. A practice account can only see data for patients registered with that practice. Access to other practices' data is technically blocked.

Question 46

Can patients refuse to share their data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Patients are in control of sharing. They can unlink from a practice at any time, and after that the practice can no longer see their data. Patients link to a practice themselves, so data is never shared without their consent.

Question 47

How do you protect against unauthorized access?

Accepted Answer

We use Cloudflare for access filtering and DDoS protection, and we limit the number of login attempts (rate limiting). We also apply a Content Security Policy (CSP) with a nonce for each request to lower the risk of XSS attacks.

Question 48

If I delete my account, is all my data erased?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you delete your account, your account and logs are deleted immediately and cannot be restored. If you agreed to take part in research, we keep your logs in a form that cannot identify you. For everyone, we keep a record of the account deletion that does not include your name or email address (see Section 8 of the Privacy Policy). You'll need to re-enter your password to confirm it's you.

Question 49

Can I download my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can download your headache logs as an Excel or CSV file. Your data is portable, so you can move it to another system or keep your own records.

Question 50

How is anonymized data used for research?

Accepted Answer

We may use logs to create and publish statistics that can't identify you. Only data from people who agreed in the app to take part in research is used for conference presentations and published papers. This data doesn't include anything that identifies you.

Question 51

Which browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

It works in most modern browsers, such as Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox. We recommend updating to the latest version.

Question 52

Is there an app?

Accepted Answer

The app is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and on Google Play for Android. Search for "Zutsu Note" in the store and install it. On a computer, you can use the web version (PWA) in your browser. Choose "Add to Home Screen" from the browser menu to use it like an app.

Question 53

What languages is Zutsu Note available in?

Accepted Answer

English and Japanese. The sign-up and log-in screens follow the language of your phone or computer: Japanese if it's set to Japanese, and English otherwise. After you sign up, you can switch between English and Japanese anytime under Account > Language (clinics can switch it on the clinic's Account page). Language and country are separate settings, so on the sign-up screen, choose the country you live in, whichever language you use.

Question 54

How can I contact you?

Accepted Answer

For questions or requests, email us at zutsu-note@iris-wellness.jp.

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