Arrest of Natural Member After Threatening Adult Club Manager: Behind the Tough Exterior

Intimidated the manager of an adult entertainment establishment who tried to end the relationship

“If things stay like this, we’ll go all the way.”

On July 31, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced the arrest of two men believed to be members of the scout group “Natural” for threatening the manager of an adult entertainment establishment.

“The two arrested on suspicion of violating the Anti-Violence Act (collective intimidation) are Naoto Watanabe (28) and Naoya Nagumo (28), both listed as unemployed. On February 6, they allegedly conspired with accomplices to rush into the office of the adult entertainment store and threatened the manager (in his 40s) of a branch of the store group with statements such as, ‘You know how big our organization is,’ ‘We’ll all come to your shop with our scouts,’ and ‘Some of us would risk prison with our lives.’

This adult entertainment group had, in June, been affected by the revised Entertainment Business Act, which prohibited paying ‘scout fees’ to women for introductions. In response, the store tried to sever ties with Natural and refused to pay the scout fees. It is believed the suspects were angered by this and threatened the branch manager. Both suspects have reportedly remained silent,” said a reporter from a national newspaper.

On August 1, Watanabe appeared at the Asakusa Police Station transfer entrance for submission to prosecutors. At first glance, he looked like an ordinary young office worker. But the next moment, that impression completely changed. Tattoos covered his neck and both arms, visible under his short-sleeved shirt. His build was solid and imposing. Watanabe walked past the gathered reporters without changing his expression at all.

Natural, the group Watanabe and Nagumo are believed to belong to, is the largest scout group in Japan. Active in entertainment districts nationwide, including Kabukicho, the group reportedly has 1,000 to 2,000 members and earned around 5 billion yen in sales last year alone. The Metropolitan Police have been monitoring Natural as a “Tokuryu” (anonymous, fluid criminal group) and have been increasing their vigilance.

The top of the pyramid is the Chairman

FRIDAY reported on April 4 and 11, 2025, about the existence of internal documents from Natural and a dark app used by members in their daily operations. According to the documents, Natural’s organization is topped by a “Chairman,” followed by “Executive Officers” (4–5 people), and about 20 “Representatives / Managing Directors” in the “Headquarters Organization.” The headquarters also includes departments such as the “Defense Department,” responsible for police countermeasures, as well as “Collections,” “Contracts,” “General Affairs,” and “Accounting,” with a total of around 100 members—resembling a small company.

Beneath this structure are field groups color-coded as red, blue, green, white, etc. Each group has around 20 “Headquarters Managers” and “Department Managers” who oversee the employees. A pyramid structure is formed, with a small number of top members controlling the majority of the rank-and-file.

Holding this massive organization together is the strict discipline unique to an underground organization. In Natural, detailed rules cover not only daily scout work but even members’ private lives, and violations incur fines. A current member of Natural explained in FRIDAY’s April 18, 2025, issue:

“Fines range from 10,000 yen for minor infractions to several million yen for serious violations, generally deducted from the following month’s salary. However, there are cases where fines exceed the salary, leaving members with no pay and instead in debt. As long as that debt exists, leaving the organization is not allowed. In practice, people have been told, ‘If you don’t have money, you’ll just have to work it off,’ and forced to work for some time without pay.”

Sanctions are a daily occurrence

The discipline went beyond fines—there was also a reign of fear through violence. In 2023, Natural caused an incident in which a member was severely injured after being beaten with a frying pan for allegedly embezzling group funds. According to the aforementioned current member, undisclosed punishments were routine and used within the organization as examples to others.

The government has taken serious measures against scout groups considered “Tokuryu,” including amending the Entertainment Business Act to target scouts. Access, a group second in power to Natural, suffered a major blow when 12 of its key executives were arrested and indicted by June this year. Even within Natural, one man believed to be an executive was arrested in November 2023. However, thanks to the “Defense Department” gathering intelligence on the police and strict internal control, the organization is thought to remain operational.

By July 16, four men believed to be responsible for Natural’s Osaka area were arrested on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act by introducing two women to adult entertainment establishments. However, in this case, two investigators who searched the base were themselves arrested for assaulting a man in his 20s, a Natural member. Due to illegal conduct during the investigation, the four previously arrested members were released.

With the revised Entertainment Business Act banning scout fees, adult entertainment establishments that try to sever ties with scouts—as in the incident described earlier—are expected to increase. The net around the resilient Natural is gradually tightening.