Picture this: a man gliding through a Dallas park on a one-wheeled electric skateboard, deftly picking up trash with a samurai sword. It sounds like something from an action movie, but for Andrey Kagan, it’s just another day of helping the environment — with a flair that has captured the internet’s attention.

Andrey Kagan, 36, knows he turns heads as he zooms around on his Onewheel, katana in hand. “Nobody cares about your steel when everybody is packing iron,” Kagan said, highlighting the unique leniency in Texas’ weapon laws. His unusual method of cleaning parks began when he realized his samurai sword could make trash collection more efficient by skewering and chopping up larger pieces of garbage to fit in his bucket.

Andrey Kagan prepares for another round of trash-cleaning at a nature park. Photo by Kagan

“That’s the beautiful thing about Texas,” Kagan said, referring to the state’s liberal stance on carrying weapons in public. But Kagan’s mission isn’t about showing off his sword skills — it’s about keeping nature trails clean while having a bit of fun.

The idea struck him about a month ago while riding through a nature park near his home. Kagan was already picking up trash, but he saw an opportunity to take it up a notch. With the addition of his katana, Kagan’s efforts soon attracted online attention.

Not the hero we deserve, but absolutely the hero we need,” one Reddit user commented on his video, where Kagan is seen in an ornate blue-and-gold coat, stabbing trash and depositing it into his bucket.

Kagan’s videos quickly gained popularity on TikTok and Reddit. One video, where he scooped up an abandoned bag of dog poop using an extended claw with the sword hanging from his belt, amassed over 257,000 views. His fans were charmed by his creative approach to litter collection. “Lived my whole life thinking I was the main character, then I stumbled on this guy,” a viewer remarked, highlighting Kagan’s unique charisma.

Keisuke Naka and Ikki Goto, members of Gomihiroi Samurai (trash-picking samurai) clad in denim yukata, pose as they pick up trash on the street of Ikebukuro in the morning after Halloween in Tokyo, Japan. Photo courtesy of Reuters

“It’s all fun to me, and it’s a good way to go exploring,” Kagan explained. His trash-picking excursions span six parks within a half-hour radius from his home, and he films his adventures using a 360-degree camera. Each week, he fills about three large trash bags, turning what could be a mundane task into a lively scavenger hunt.

For Kagan, the sword is more than just a prop — it’s a practical tool. “To me, the sword is just another handy tool for what I do,” he said. Despite samurai swords’ potential to be costly, Kagan’s katana is well-worn from years of use, including chopping wood and metal.

I keep it sharp, but I’m not afraid to damage it,” he added.

Balancing his trash collection hobby with his job as an X-ray technician, Kagan sees plenty of injuries from daredevil stunts, yet remains undeterred. “My Onewheel can be a very dangerous toy, but after your first three falls, you learn not to fall,” Kagan said. His passion for cleaning parks emerged after mastering the Onewheel, realizing his free hands could be put to good use.

In addition to the sword, Kagan often brings along musical instruments, like a wooden Ukrainian flute and a jaw harp, to add a whimsical soundtrack to his eco-friendly escapades. “If I can have fun and do some good at the same time, I figure, why not?” he said.

Kagan’s efforts have inspired others, drawing parallels to Japan’s “Gomihiroi Samurai”— trash-picking samurai who blend performance with environmental activism. Kagan’s family, including his wife, two children, and his mother, who immigrated with him from Ukraine, support his mission. “Picking up trash is my way of giving back,” he said, appreciating the peaceful life they’ve built in Texas.