Defectors Wanted: Current Members Expose the Rule of Fear Inside the Illegal Scouting Group Natural

After joining without much thought, “I found myself unable to leave.”

“If you work hard, you can earn many times more than an average salaryman. But because of that, most of it gets spent on eating at fancy restaurants, buying expensive stuff, traveling, gambling, and so on, so I don’t really have much in savings.”

So says an active member of “Natural,” considered the strongest (or most notorious) scouting organization in Japan.

The meeting took place in a room of a city hotel. Sitting on the sofa was a young man who, at first glance, looked like an ordinary guy in his twenties you might see in Shibuya or Roppongi during the day. He didn’t have the distinct vibe often associated with people in the nightlife industry, and he spoke politely with a soft demeanor. However, upon closer inspection, although casually dressed, he wore high-end brands and discreetly sported what appeared to be expensive jewelry. What stood out most was his extreme vigilance toward his surroundings. He introduced himself as “Saeki,” noting that it was an alias.

“Honestly, the higher-ups are really strict. If they found out I was meeting someone from outside like this, I’d get dealt with right away,” he said, mimicking being struck on the head with a fist.

Despite being in a secluded room, he spoke about the organization in a voice so low it was hard to hear.

In its March 21 issue, FRIDAY revealed the internal structure of “Natural,” an organization operating like a large corporation, and the “dark apps” they use. Although a vague outline of the massive group—which generated 5 billion yen in sales last year—has begun to emerge, mysteries remained about the top leadership and the power structure controlling its 2,000 members.

Efforts to contact active members familiar with the internal workings were met with extreme difficulty due to the organization’s strict information control and increasing police pressure on scout groups. Nevertheless, based on a lead, we finally managed to meet Saeki, who had been a member for several years. (Unless otherwise noted, all quotations below are from Saeki.)

“There are quite a few active university students involved. Many join during their student days and continue working after graduation. These days, scouting often happens not on the streets but via social media or through introductions, so there are fewer typical pushy types. Some look like sparkling businessmen. They listen to women’s concerns and suggest the most suitable adult entertainment establishments, helping to arrange things—so in a way, it’s similar to sales or consulting work.”

Previous reporting revealed that many members of the organization come from prestigious universities. Names like Waseda, Keio, Tokyo’s Big Six, MARCH, and Kansai’s equivalent Kankandoritsu have been mentioned, with some cases where almost an entire university circle joined. When recruiting, they often use the name “Clear” instead of revealing their connection to Natural.

“I was the same. At first, I just thought it was a well-paying part-time job, without thinking too deeply about it. When you’re a student with money to spare, you become popular, and there’s also a sense of superiority that comes from earning a lot. But after spending some time in the organization, it becomes very hard to leave.”

Wanted for desertion

Natural, with its extremely strict internal controls, operates almost like a secret society. Within the organization’s dark app used for internal communication, there are numerous rule-like clauses listed under the company regulations, stating that “violators will be held responsible.”

“Not just for regular scouting work, but there are various rules even covering private life. If you violate them, you get a salary reduction—basically a fine. The fines range from 10,000 yen for minor infractions to several million yen for serious ones, and are generally deducted from the next month’s paycheck. However, sometimes the fine exceeds the salary amount, meaning you end up with no pay and even fall into debt. As long as you have that debt, you’re not allowed to quit. There have been people who were forced to work without pay until they repaid it, being told, ‘If you have no money, you have to work it off.'”

Leaking internal information to outsiders is considered the gravest offense, punishable by a 5 million yen fine according to the rules.

Besides financial pressure, there is also fear control through violence. In 2023, Natural was involved in an incident where a member who allegedly embezzled group funds was assaulted with a frying pan, resulting in serious injuries requiring six months to heal. The victim was reportedly detained for days in an apartment and subjected to degrading acts to prevent them from contacting the police.

These lynchings are intended not only to punish individuals but also to instill fear within the organization. Sometimes, members who break the rules are beaten in front of others, or videos of the assaults are circulated internally.

“Sanctions happen quite frequently, though they just don’t get publicized. Besides the scouts on the streets, there are also some large-built enforcers who operate directly under ‘headquarters.’ I’ve heard that these guys have close ties to active yakuza members.”

Even within the app, members use aliases to communicate, but upon joining the organization, they are required to register their real name and address with official documents like a driver’s license. As a result, it’s impossible to just run away. If someone becomes unreachable even for a short time, supervisors or HQ staff will storm their home and “grill” them.

“There was a guy who tried to flee far away to the countryside after messing up, but in the end, he got beaten up and dragged back. There’s even a ‘wanted list’ system inside the organization. If you run off without permission, your face and real name get posted so that all members nationwide can see it.”

Indeed, in the internal data obtained from the dark app, there was a wanted board listing multiple individuals’ photos and personal information like family registries, labeling them as missing after rule violations.

Furthermore, there’s even a whistleblowing system to report members showing suspicious behavior or rule-breaking to HQ. When someone is fined, half of the fine is paid to the informant. Like the wartime neighborhood group system, it cleverly creates an environment where members are constantly monitoring each other, which is chilling to consider.

“There’s a vibe like a university club circle, so the sense of camaraderie is strong and sometimes it feels fun. But now, the fear outweighs everything. It feels like I’m always being watched, and if I even hint at disobedience, someone immediately snitches. Even when posting photos from private trips on Instagram, they check the destination.

The only ones who are truly living well are a handful of top executives who rake in hundreds of millions of yen each month without doing any scouting work. I think there are many around me who want to quit but just can’t.”

The scout back commissions earned by arranging women for sex work or overseas prostitution aren’t fully handed to the scouts; a portion is passed up the chain. This means the larger the organization, the more money concentrates at the top. If a member quits, it results in a loss of income, and even the immediate supervisor is held responsible, ensuring that the pressure to prevent resignations is relentless.

 

For the second part, click here: “ [Full disclosure] Current members of the illegal scouts “Natural” reveal the true identity of the top management, who are famous for their militancy.

Nihonbashi Group*.
A new type of reporting and information team consisting of people from the media, bureaucracy, politics, IT, etc. The Nihonbashi Group works with domestic and international organizations, and is mainly engaged in investigative reporting and documentary production.

From the April 18, 2025 issue of FRIDAY