Both middle fingers raised…Illegal scout group “Natural” member arrested and locked up, threatening appearance during transfer.

He confined a member inside a car at Haneda Airport

Another incident has occurred involving a dispute among members of Natural, Japan’s largest and most notorious illegal scouting group.

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Anti–Organized Crime Division arrested three people, including Natural member Keito Yamasaka (26), on suspicion of confinement and other charges by November 19.

“According to investigators, on June 19 this year, Yamasaka and two others surrounded a man in his 20s—A, who was then a member of the group—at Haneda Airport, confronted him saying things like ‘Why’ve you been ignoring our messages?’ and allegedly confined him inside a car parked on the road in front of the terminal building.

Natural prohibits involvement in illegal drugs or fraud. The suspects had received information from another associate that A might have been doing drugs or fraud while in the Philippines. They waited for him at the airport on his return date. The incident came to light when officers from the Tokyo Airport Police Station became suspicious of the car in the parking area, questioned the men, and A asked them for help,” said a national newspaper social-affairs reporter.

By November 17, the three—including Yamasaka—had been taken into custody and transferred to the Tokyo Airport Police Station in a police vehicle. One of them, Taisei Miyazono (25), showed no change in expression even when he noticed the media, staring straight ahead. Another, Alexandre Nakata (24), also appeared completely unfazed.

Among them, only Yamasaka reacted aggressively. The moment he noticed the press, he thrust both middle fingers up, revealing his agitation. Even after stepping out of the vehicle, he glared at the reporters and raised his middle finger once again.

Natural is also being cornered

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

“On November 18, another Natural executive faced a lay-judge trial at the Tokyo District Court. He was charged with forcible indecent assault causing injury and confinement for detaining a man who violated group rules and subjecting him to assault and indecent acts. The prosecution demanded six years in prison,” said the same reporter.

Natural continues to expand its influence. Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa spoke about the current situation and the outlook for future investigations:

“It’s true that Natural has grown far too rapidly in recent years, to the point where the authorities can barely keep up. As a result, cracks have appeared within the organization—such as internal violence and confinement cases—because they can no longer maintain full control over their members. Naturally, the police are united and fully committed to dismantling the group. To do so, they must conduct investigations that dig deeply into Natural’s inner workings to obtain information.

Most likely, the police inspector arrested this time was originally supposed to play such a role. It’s unfortunate that he ended up being swayed by Natural, but one could also say this shows how desperate Natural has become—approaching investigators themselves and extracting information. In other words, they’ve been pushed to the point where they must take such dangerous risks. The fierce tug-of-war between Natural and the police will continue, and similar incidents will likely increase.”

The investigative net aiming to dismantle Natural is undoubtedly tightening.