Sumiranger Z is a real life Japanese tokusatsu hero protecting his neighborhood from trash while finding fulfillment through community service.

Primarily located in Shibuya, Sumiranger has been working to keep the streets clean for going on 8 years and what began as a small project to fight his own mental health battles has grown into a small movement.

Nerd culture is at its best when it’s helping people become their best selves. We’ve seen this in action recently with the man inspired by Himmel the Hero from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End who stopped a knife attack.

But the lack of drama or live or die stakes doesn’t make Sumiranger’s work any less meaningful. Small problems can quickly become big problems. In one post Sumiranger laments how he saw someone flick a smoldering cigarette butt into a pile of burnable trash (Japanese trash collection distinguishes between burnable and non-burnable trash).

As for his difficulties with depression, a quick look at his social media shows that Sumiranger has become a community fixture, volunteering for events, playing with local kids, and promoting small businesses.

Keep up the good work Sumiranger Z!