A plant-powered organism that generates electricity when watered.

With the opening of the Chūō Shinkansen (Maglev) in sight, urban redevelopment is progressing in Hashimoto, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. The city promotes a vision called “Hashimoto—where the Linear connects people to a step-ahead future,” planning integrated development of the station and surrounding area.

Against this backdrop, a collaborative project called Botac has launched, led by Keio Corporation, Green Display Co., Ltd., and Konel Inc.. By using plant-based power generation, the initiative reimagines the station as an environment that evolves through citizen participation.

It serves as a symbolic project that aims to transform Hashimoto into a “laboratory for the future.”

Issue

Toward Hashimoto, a city of future experimentation.

Driven by the planned 2037 opening of the Chūō Shinkansen (Maglev), redevelopment around Hashimoto Station is gaining momentum. The station is expected to evolve beyond a simple transportation hub—shifting from a place people merely pass through to a destination in its own right.This project begins with that vision. It aims to go beyond improved convenience by fostering an experimental urban culture where people gather, take on challenges, and generate new value—transforming Hashimoto into a place where visitors feel that “something is happening here.”

Creation

What is the plant-powered organism “BOTAC”?

Botac is an experimental device that converts citizens’ watering actions into electricity through plant-based power generation. When a passerby presses the button at the center, a small “rain” falls onto the plant. This activates microorganisms in the soil and generates a small amount of electricity.

Rather than focusing on efficient energy production, plant-based power highlights a different role: a gentle technology that communicates environmental change through the life activities of plants and microorganisms. Botac embraces this idea and was designed as an interface that lets people sense natural processes within an urban setting.

The relationship between watering frequency, microbial activity, and the electricity generated appears on a display as a “digital organism.” Instead of showing raw numbers, the system expresses these changes through the character’s growth and shifting expressions. This allows people passing through the station to intuitively understand the plant’s condition and naturally stay aware of it.

Like a digital pet living in the station, the system creates a shared experience where the environment evolves through people’s participation.

As a technology that gently visualizes the state of plants, Botac helps cultivate a new relationship between nature and the city, and between people and their environment.

Technology

Remote sensing of soil conditions, moisture levels, and electricity generation.

Plant-based power generation does not produce electricity from the plant itself. Instead, it relies on microorganisms living around the roots. As these microbes break down organic matter produced through photosynthesis, they release electrons that can be captured to generate electricity. In this way, the natural processes of soil, water, and microbial activity become a source of energy.

In this project, the generated electricity powers sensors that monitor soil conditions and moisture levels. Sensors collect data on both the power output and the state of the soil, enabling remote monitoring.

Watering, once handled by staff, is now shared with people passing through the station. By simply pressing a button to water the plant, visitors help sustain both plant growth and electricity generation.

Future

Expanding the community of partners who shape the city’s future together.

Botac is an open-innovation project where plants and citizens interact, allowing the city to evolve and expand through participation. Using a station as a public testing ground, the project verifies power generation levels and the accuracy of remote sensing while exploring how this technology can integrate into urban operations.

At the same time, the project examines the psychological effects and motivation created by visualizing the condition of plants. Its goal is to explore a new urban model where technology and citizen participation coexist naturally.

Botac welcomes collaboration with partners from diverse fields—whether by providing demonstration spaces, creating exhibition opportunities, or supporting the project through participation and donations. Together, the initiative aims to shape a future city where people and the environment remain continuously connected.