Inside the Court Testimony Exposing Natural’s Leaders and Their Brutal Torture Practices

Details of the Punishments Imposed on “Natural” Members

On November 18, the Tokyo District Court held a lay judge trial for Eddie Kaneko (29, at the time of arrest), an executive of the scout group “Natural,” who is charged with forcible indecency resulting in injury and confinement for detaining a man who violated group rules and subjecting him to assault and indecent acts.

“Natural” is the largest illegal scouting group in Japan, with more than 1,500 members. By referring women—who could no longer pay their debts to host clubs—to sex-related businesses and receiving kickbacks (referral fees), the group earned as much as 4.4 billion yen in profit in a single year (2022).

To control its members, the group is organized into a pyramid structure with executives at the top, and their information management is extremely strict to prevent leaks. Members communicated through a custom-developed app, referring to the police as viruses and sharing photos of investigators.

Meanwhile, a shocking discovery has emerged: “Natural’s” influence had reached inside the police force.

By November 12, Daisuke Jimbo (43) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Organized Crime Countermeasures Division had been arrested on suspicion of violating the Local Public Service Act (duty of confidentiality) for leaking investigative information to Natural.

“The arrest of an investigator was an unbelievable betrayal. It has caused enormous shock among law enforcement officials, as it severely undermines trust in the police. Around 9 million yen was seized from Jimbo’s home, and investigators are looking into its connection to the case,” said a national newspaper social-affairs reporter.

At Kaneko’s trial held that day, the horrifying details of the punishments imposed on those who violated group rules were revealed.

Kaneko appeared in court wearing a black suit and a narrow navy tie. His well-defined features, tall frame, and well-balanced physique made him look almost like a model.

A culture of sexualized punishment within the organization

Kaneko, who was a senior member, ordered his subordinates to detain a man (referred to as A) who had violated group rules. A was confined and subjected to beatings—punches, kicks—and was ordered to strip naked. When he refused, the men continued hitting him with sticks and a frying pan. According to prosecutors’ opening statement, Kaneko said:

“Hey, bring that thing over here.” (Statements in ＜＞ below are Kaneko’s words as presented by the prosecution.)

He then took a female adult toy in his hand. To the man who resisted, Kaneko threatened:

“This won’t end unless you do it.”

A, cornered, eventually submitted, and Kaneko inserted the device into his anus. During the assault Kaneko ordered him:

“Say it feels good!”

He also forced A to say the names of his relatives and filmed the entire scene.

A was repeatedly beaten on the face and head, leaving the right half of his face numb for six months. Because of the extreme sexual humiliation, he still suffers flashbacks of the incident and sometimes cannot sleep at night. Although he received a settlement of 40 million yen from Kaneko and others, his psychological wounds remain unhealed.

In their closing argument, prosecutors pointed out that there existed a culture of sexualized punishment within the organization and stated:

“This was an organized crime with the purpose of trampling on the victim’s dignity. The defendant played a major role.”

They demanded a six-year prison sentence.

The day after this trial, on November 19, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Organized Crime Division arrested three additional men—including Natural member Keito Yamasaka (26)—on suspicion of coercion and unlawful confinement for allegedly detaining another man inside a vehicle.

It is possible that Natural’s punishments are still ongoing even now.