So one Sunday in early March 2016, a group of young samurai took it upon themselves to address the problem.

The team of kimono-clad heroes stood tall as they patrolled Center Gai, and wherever they spotted trash, they stopped, drew their tongs with a katana-inspired flourish, and got to cleaning, all while loudly wondering “What lout would do such a thing?”

While samurai were traditionally men, the group included at least one dashing young woman, who can be seen dressed in red above.

So just who are these lovers of justice and cleanliness? While many who’ve seen them in person refer to them as the Gomi-hiroi Samurai (“The Samurai Who Pick Up Litter”), they’re officially called Jidaigumi Basara, the Tokyo branch of Hokkaido-based samurai performance troupe Issei Ichidai Jidaigumi. The group’s flair for the dramatic can be seen in this video from their official Twitter account.

If you're feeling inspired by how Jidaigumi Basara is literally cleaning up the street, the group is indeed looking for new members, with the application form found here on its website.

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