Scouting Group Leader Earned 7 Billion Yen in 5 Years Through Deception

From July 2019, over a period of about five years, it is said that he received 7 billion yen.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Security Division arrested Yuta Murakami (33), a resident of Nakano, Tokyo, on February 3rd on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act (introducing harmful work). Murakami is the sub-manager and effectively the number two in the scout group “Access” (the leader of the group has already been indicted for violating the same law). As the point of contact for “Access,” he was responsible for managing scouting fees and dealing with troubles at the adult entertainment establishments where women were sent.

According to the arrest charges, Murakami is accused of introducing three women, aged 20 to 28, to an adult entertainment establishment in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, between February and April of last year. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police set up a special investigation unit in January this year. Already, seven individuals, including Murakami, have been arrested in connection with “Access” as part of the investigation. In response to the police questioning, Murakami has confessed, stating, “There is no mistake.”

“Access” had around 300 scouts. They recruited women via social media and introduced them to approximately 350 adult establishments across 46 prefectures in Japan. It is said that “Access” received a total of 7 billion yen over the five years from July 2019. The police are recognizing this as a “Tokuryu-type crime,” in which the scouts operate anonymously and flexibly, and they are investigating the full financial flow. (National newspaper social department reporter)

“I’m struggling with accounts receivable.”

Murakami, the suspect, was also responsible for the development of new brothels, earning about 800,000 yen per month in commission. “Access” seemed to be cunningly hiding the flow of money to avoid leaving evidence.

“The method was like this: The bank accounts that record deposits and withdrawals would leave a trail, so they first established a fake company. Brothels were instructed to send cash to the company’s ‘P.O. Box’ via a letterback” (source).

A photographer from this magazine captured Murakami’s transfer from the police station. He was looking straight ahead until he recognized the press, at which point he looked down and covered his face.

Teihei Ogawa, a former detective from the Kanagawa Prefectural Police and now a crime journalist, explains the background of the crackdown.

“Many women who apply for work at brothels are struggling with accounts receivable from host clubs. Unable to pay the huge debts they owe to hosts, they are reluctantly forced into working at brothels on the advice of the hosts. The police have been increasing pressure on host clubs to stop forcing these debts. But even if they crack down on host clubs, it doesn’t address the root problem.

After the change of department head last summer, the police took a stronger approach. Hosts rely on brothel scouts, and many of these scouts are no longer working in areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya, where they are easily recognized. Instead, they operate in local areas such as Oita and Yamaguchi. In these areas, they place women struggling with accounts receivable from hosts into local brothels. To cut off this entire cycle, the police established a special investigation unit and began cracking down on these malicious scout groups.”

The police have also started targeting brothels in regional areas that collaborate with scout groups.