TOKYO (TR) – Two male members of Natural, the largest scouting group for the commercial sex industry in the nation, have been arrested on suspicion of introducing women to adult-entertainment establishments.
Tokyo and Chiba police believe funds from the group are a source of income for yakuza syndicates, reports Fuji News Network (Jan. 28).
Natural members Yuya Ogino, 32, and Ryosuke Itani, 27, are suspected of violating the Employment Security Act by introducing two women, aged in their 30s, to adult-entertainment establishments in Toyama City and Tokyo’s Taito Ward dating back to 2023.
Police did not reveal whether the suspects admit to the allegations.
Itani is believed to have scouted the women. Meanwhile, Ogino received referral fees from the adult-entertainment establishments.
Natural has at least 1,500 members. It is believed to earn approximately 5 billion yen in referral fees and other income each year.
On January 27, Tokyo police conducted searches of dozens of locations, including adult entertainment establishments, in order to uncover the full extent of Natural’s operations.
The investigation is also probing whether a portion of the funds from the operation are channeled to organized crime as “protection money” in order to allow for the scouting activities to be tolerated.
