Questions about the SABAKURAKU app
For questions, bug reports, or feature requests, please email us at:
Q. Which devices are supported?
iPhone / iPad running iOS 15.0+, and Android 7.0 (API 24) or later.
Q. Is the app paid?
It's free. There are no in-app purchases (IAP), subscriptions, or paid unlocks. The only monetization is a banner ad (Pangle) at the bottom of the screen.
Q. Why are ads shown?
To keep every feature free, the App shows a single banner ad (Pangle) at the bottom of the screen. It never covers the simulation area. There is no paid option to remove ads.
Q. How do I change the ad settings (personalized ads)?
On the home screen, tap "About this app" (top right), open "Ad settings", and choose "Allow" or "Don't allow". With "Don't allow" you will still see ads, but they will not be tailored to your interests. On Android the same choice is also shown on first launch. On iOS you can also change it in Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking on your iPhone or iPad (ads are personalized only if you allow both tracking and the in-app setting).
Q. Do you collect personal information?
There are no accounts, and we do not collect or store personal information. The only data stored on your device is the theme setting and your ad setting (whether personalized ads are allowed). The ad SDK (Pangle) may collect advertising identifiers and similar data. See the Privacy Policy and How We Handle Personal Data for details.
Q. Where are my settings and progress stored?
Only on your device; nothing is sent anywhere. Because there are no accounts or cloud sync, they do not carry over when you change devices or delete the App. If a feature that records your learning progress is added in the future, that progress will also be stored only on your device.
Q. Does it work offline?
All features except ads work offline. Without a connection, the ad simply does not appear and the simulations work as usual.
Q. How do I reset a simulation?
Tap the reset button (the circular-arrow icon) at the top right of any simulation screen to return it to its initial state. "Re-scatter sand" on the dune screen and "Restore vegetation" on the water balance screen also start that screen over.
Q. How do I use each screen?
Every screen has a how-to guide and an explanation that show what each control does.
Q. Which languages are supported?
Nine: Japanese, English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Korean, German, and French. The App follows your device language.
Q. Can it be used in schools?
Yes, feel free to use it for education in schools, cram schools, or self-study.
Q. How accurate are the simulations?
They use textbook-level simplified models (a dune cellular automaton, the aridity index and grazing tipping point, groundwater balance, infiltration and runoff, adiabatic changes). They are not for actual weather or flood forecasting, disaster prevention, or groundwater management; please consult reliable literature and observational data.
When reporting a bug, including the following helps us resolve it quickly:
SABAKURAKU is an education app for the science of drylands, letting you experience six modules — Dune Formation, Water Balance & Desertification, Oases & Groundwater, Flash Floods (Wadis), Why Dry Belts Form, and Rain Shadow — interactively, visuals-first. Built around the idea that wind shapes the sand and water decides the land, it is the drylands module of the "Raku" series.
Version: 1.0.0