Photo/Illutration The image shows how the Pride Vision service works. When a smartphone camera is pointed at the poster of a candidate who supports legalizing same-sex marriage, the poster changes to rainbow colors. (Provided by Marriage For All Japan)

A new service called Pride Vision allows voters to ascertain the views of candidates in the upcoming Lower House election on same-sex marriage by pointing a smartphone camera at their campaign posters.

If a candidate supports legalizing same-sex marriage, the poster will change to rainbow colors on the screen.

Marriage For All Japan, a public interest incorporated association that advocates for the legalization of same-sex marriage, launched the augmented reality service.

“Election posters alone don’t reveal a candidate’s views or promises,” an association representative said.

“We want people to use this service as a way to start thinking about who to vote for,” the representative said.

Voters can use Pride Vision by activating their cameras to scan campaign posters at the website: https://pride-vision.com/ 

“While more than 70 percent of the public supports same-sex marriage, political progress remains stalled, with a gap between the views of lawmakers and public opinion,” the Marriage For All Japan representative said.

The association hopes that the service will help voters decide who to support.

A candidate’s stance on the legalization of same-sex marriage was determined based on a joint survey conducted by The Asahi Shimbun and a team led by Masaki Taniguchi, a political science professor at the University of Tokyo.

As of Oct. 23, the service covers 204 electoral districts across 35 of Japan’s 47 prefectures.

Inquiries can be made through the association’s website: https://www.marriageforall.jp/contact/

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