In Tokyo, there’s a self-proclaimed superhero who goes by the name Mangetsu Man. Keeping his identity secret, he wears a purple bodysuit with a large yellow smiley head. His self-described mission is to keep the city trash-free.
Tokyo's Mangetsu Man: The Trash-Fighting Superhero
In a world where superheroes typically battle villains and save cities from destruction, one masked crusader in Tokyo chose a different mission: picking up trash. Meet Mangetsu Man (Full Moon Man), the self-proclaimed superhero who prowled Tokyo's streets armed not with superpowers, but with a broom, dustpan, and garbage bags.
Dressed in a eye-catching purple bodysuit, oversized grey gloves and boots, and crowned with a large yellow smiley-face head, Mangetsu Man became an unforgettable sight in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district starting around 2014. He took his secret identity seriously, too—using a voice dictation app to disguise his voice during interviews and never revealing his true name.
Fighting Grime, Not Crime
Unlike traditional superheroes, Mangetsu Man's superpower was commitment. He regularly patrolled areas around the historic Nihonbashi Bridge, sweeping up litter and encouraging passersby to keep their city clean. His philosophy was simple: Tokyo's real enemy wasn't supervillains—it was carelessness.
Japan is famously clean, but even Tokyo has its problem spots. Mangetsu Man focused on areas where trash accumulated, transforming himself into a living, walking reminder about civic responsibility. His cheerful appearance made the message impossible to ignore.
Inspiring a Movement
What started as one person's quirky campaign evolved into something bigger. Mangetsu Man inspired other volunteers to join his cleaning efforts, creating an informal team of street cleaners. Beyond trash collection, he became an activist for beautification projects, particularly advocating for the removal of an expressway built over the historic Nihonbashi Bridge to restore its original beauty.
The character tapped into Japan's rich tradition of gotouchi (local) mascots and the global Real Life Superhero movement, where ordinary people don costumes to perform community service. But Mangetsu Man's complete commitment to anonymity and his consistent presence set him apart.
The Mystery Continues
Who was behind the yellow moon mask? That remains unknown. The superhero appeared regularly between 2014-2016, gaining international media attention and becoming a symbol of grassroots environmental activism. Whether Mangetsu Man still patrols Tokyo's streets or has hung up his purple cape remains a mystery—much like his true identity.
His legacy, however, is clear: sometimes the most heroic act isn't fighting monsters, but simply caring enough about your community to pick up a broom. In a city of 14 million people, one person proved that individual action—even when wearing an absurdly large smiley face—can make a difference.