保つ Tamotsu
To keep. To protect. To preserve. To sustain.
The word
保つ (たもつ, tamotsu) is an everyday Japanese verb. It means to keep something as it should be: to hold on to it, look after it, and keep it going. You might use it for keeping your health, keeping a promise, or keeping something safe from harm.
- To keep
- to hold on to what matters
- To protect
- to look after it
- To preserve
- to keep it from harm
- To sustain
- to keep it going over time
The character
The word is written with the kanji 保 followed by the kana つ, which completes the verb.
On the left of 保 is 
, the form the character for “person” takes when it is part of another character. In its oldest written forms, 保 is usually read as a person carrying a child on their back.
We think that is a good picture of what Tamotsu is for: a person, close by, looking after someone else.
Why we chose it
Most scam-checking tools try to replace human judgement with a verdict. We wanted the opposite. Tamotsu keeps a trusted person involved in every decision, protects the confidence people have built in getting online, and helps preserve the habit of stopping to check.
The logo carries the same idea: a young plant, and a person, held inside a shield that is open at the bottom. It protects without closing anyone in.
Who we are
Tamotsu is made by Taisabaki Limited, a small UK company founded by Peter Weaver, a software developer with a background in secure software. Taisabaki (体捌き) is the martial-arts movement of stepping calmly out of the line of an attack, which felt right for a company that helps people step away from scams.