Japanese Spitz Foundation

    Author & Translator Guidelines

    Yuliya Malinina
    3–5 minutes

    1. Purpose of the Project

    The Japanese Spitz Foundation (JSF) publishes original research, historical materials, translations, and expert commentary related to the Japanese Spitz breed, including its history, breeding, standards, genetics, and cultural context.

    Authors and translators are encouraged to write clearly and accessibly, avoiding unnecessary jargon while maintaining factual accuracy.

    2. Types of Contributions Accepted

    JSF welcomes the following types of submissions:

    • Original research articles
    • Historical essays and archival analyses
    • Breed-related technical or scientific texts
    • Translations of historical or modern source materials
    • Translations of published on japanesespitz.org materials
    • Annotated documents, commentaries, or curated archives

    3. Originality and Prior Publication

    By submitting a contribution, the author or translator confirms that:

    • they hold the necessary rights to publish or republish the submitted material;
    • any prior publication, translation, or public use of the material has been disclosed;
    • publication on japanesespitz.org does not knowingly infringe the rights of third parties

    Translations must clearly identify:

    • the original author (if known)
    • the original source and publication date
    • the language of origin

    4. Authorship and Attribution

    All published works will include clear attribution, which may include:

    • Author or translator name
    • Role (e.g. Author, Translator, Editor)
    • Optional affiliation (if approved by JSF)

    Anonymous or pseudonymous publication is possible only with prior approval by JSF.

    5. Length and Structure

    • Recommended length: up to 10,000–12,000 words, unless otherwise agreed
    • Each submission should include:
      • Title
      • Short abstract or introductory summary (100–200 words recommended)
      • Main body text
      • References or source notes (where applicable)

    JSF does not use anonymous or double-blind review. All editorial decisions are made internally.

    6. Figures, Images, and Illustrations

    Authors and translators may include images, figures, photographs, or scans where they are relevant to research, historical documentation, or educational purposes.

    Such materials may include:

    • original images created by the contributor;
    • materials believed to be in the public domain;
    • copyrighted materials used in accordance with applicable fair use / fair dealing provisions for research, education, criticism, commentary, or archival preservation.

    Contributors are expected to:

    • provide source information and attribution to the extent reasonably possible;
    • indicate where copyright status is uncertain or unknown;
    • confirm that inclusion of the material is made in good faith and for non-commercial, educational purposes.

    Where higher-quality files are available, contributors are encouraged to provide them. However, historical or archival materials may be included in their original scanned or photographed form, even if resolution or quality is limited.

    If a rights holder objects to the inclusion of specific material, the Japanese Spitz Foundation will review the request and, where appropriate, remove or replace the material.

    JSF logos or third-party logos may not be used without prior written approval.

    7. Tables and Data

    • Tables should be editable (not embedded as images)
    • Data sources must be clearly cited
    • Historical estimates or interpretations should be identified as such

    8. References and Citations

    JSF does not enforce a single academic citation style. However:

    • Sources must be clearly identifiable and traceable
    • DOIs, archive references, or original publication details should be included when available
    • Translations should note if wording is interpretive or reconstructed

    9. Copyright and Licensing

    By publishing with the Japanese Spitz Foundation:

    • Authors and translators retain copyright to their work
    • JSF is granted a non-exclusive, perpetual right to publish and archive the work on japanesespitz.org and affiliate resources 
    • The work is published under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike (CC BY NC SA) license .
      • BY — Attribution. Reuse the work only if the author and JSF are credited
      • NC — Non-Commercial. Reuse is allowed only for non-commercial purposes
      • SA — ShareAlike. Any adapted or remixed versions must use the same license

    This allows:

    • sharing with attribution
    • academic or educational reuse
    • preservation in archives

    Separate reuse or republication by the author is permitted, provided that initial publication with JSF is acknowledged.

    10. Editorial Rights

    JSF reserves the right to:

    • make minor editorial corrections (grammar, clarity, formatting)
    • request revisions or clarifications
    • decline publication if content does not meet quality, accuracy, or ethical standards

    Substantive changes will always be discussed with the author or translator.

    11. Privacy and Data Protection

    Names and contact details provided to JSF are used solely for editorial and publication purposes and are not shared with third parties.

    JSF processes personal data in accordance with applicable EU GDPR requirements.

    12. Submission Process

    Submissions are accepted via the Japanese Spitz Foundation Google Form and are coordinated directly with the JSF editorial team.

    After submission, authors and translators will receive:

    • confirmation of receipt;
    • editorial feedback, where applicable;
    • information on expected publication timing.

    The editorial team may contact contributors if clarification, additional materials, or minor revisions are needed prior to publication