# Frequently Asked Questions

_This document is public and contains no confidential information._

## What is the Founding Batch?
The Founding Batch is the first numbered production run of the KAKI Ritual Starter Kit. Founding Batch kits are reserved below the planned retail price. The exact founding price is shown on every product page and at checkout, and each kit is batch- and lot-marked. Reserving a kit holds your place in the first run.

## Is payment collected today?
No. Shibui Rituals is in Founding Batch reservation, and no payment is collected today. You are reserving early access, card-free. We will email you before any paid preorder opens, and you can opt out at any time.

## When will my preorder ship?
The current estimated ship window is shown on every product page and at checkout. It is an estimate, not a guarantee. Small-batch manufacturing is deliberate by design. You will receive batch updates by email as your kit moves toward shipping.

## Can I cancel before shipment?
Yes, at any time and for any reason. Preorders are fully refundable before shipment. Write to support and we will take care of it. No forms, no friction.

## Is this a medical product?
No. KAKI is a cosmetic body-care ritual for refined freshness. It is not a medical product, not an antibacterial drug product, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We make no medical claims. If a scent change concerns you, please speak with a healthcare professional.

## Why focus on scent changes?
Because it is the quiet thing regular soap does not always solve. A clean shower does not always leave skin feeling fresh, and a musty, oily-smelling odor can return on skin, collars, and bedding. KAKI is a refined daily ritual made for exactly that: a cosmetic approach to close-contact freshness, with no shame and no medical claims.

## What is Japanese persimmon extract?
Kaki, the Japanese persimmon, is a fruit long appreciated in Japan, known for its natural astringency. Its extract is the signature ingredient in KAKI No. 01, our deodorizing body bar, and the foundation of the ritual.

## Where should I use the body bar?
Anywhere freshness matters most: the neck, behind the ears, underarms, chest, back, and feet. The ritual card in the Starter Kit walks through the method, a slower, more deliberate wash in the places scent tends to settle.

## How should I use KAKI No. 01?
Warm the skin first, then work the bar against the wash cloth into a fine lather. Wash slowly where scent settles: the neck, behind the ears, underarms, chest, back, and feet. Let the lather rest for a breath, rinse well, and return the bar to its stone so it stays dry between rituals. The ritual card in the Starter Kit walks through each step.

## Is this only for people over 40?
Not at all. Scent can change with heat, stress, time, travel, and fabric buildup at any age. The ritual is designed for anyone who wants refined, close-contact freshness, and the quiz can match it to your situation.

## Will there be a body wash?
Yes. KAKI No. 02 Body Wash is in development, alongside KAKI No. 03 Fabric Rinse and Travel Cloths. Founding Batch members hear about each release first.

## Will this be available on Amazon?
Not at launch. The Founding Batch is available only here, directly from Shibui Rituals, so we can number each kit and care for each reservation personally. If that changes later, Founding Batch members will hear first.

## What if the ship date changes?
We will tell you promptly and plainly. If the estimated window moves, you will be notified by email and may cancel for a full refund. Before anything ships, you are never locked in.

## How do I contact support?
Through the contact page, or by writing to support@shibuirituals.com. A person reads every message, and we aim to respond within two business days.