Japan’s industry ministry is developing a mobile application to allow tourists to scan tags using their mobile phone cameras and get a translation in English and other languages.
The project involves 55 retail and manufacturing companies from different sectors, including Japanese convenience store giant Lawson, cosmetics company Kao and pharmaceutical company Takeda, local daily Asahi reported.
The application, expected to be available by the end of 2016, will allow a customer to scan the quick response, or QR codes or similar tags on products or shelves using their smartphone cameras.
It will allow foreign tourists with specific needs such as a particular medicine, to buy products easily.
The ministry is also considering introducing other languages in the system, including Chinese or Korean given the large influx of tourists from East Asia.
The app is inspired by a similar system that is already in operation in 7-Eleven stores in popular tourist spots in Japan.
