Overview of the Verdict
On November 12, 2025, the Tokyo District Court handed down guilty verdicts to three executives and operatives of the illegal scout group "Natural." An executive (38) was given three years and six months in prison (an actual term), while two operatives were each given prison terms ranging from one to two years (partly suspended).
The presiding judge declared, "They systematically and continuously introduced women to adult-entertainment establishments and obtained financial gain. They gravely harmed the freedom and dignity of the women who were victimized."
Natural's Remaining Trial
The trial of the group's leader, defendant Hiroaki Obata, is scheduled to open with its first hearing in May 2026, roughly a year after his indictment. The guilty verdicts against the three executives are seen as likely to influence the "finding of organized criminal conduct" in Obata's trial.
The Judiciary's Stance Toward Illegal Scouting
In recent years, verdicts against illegal scouting have tended to grow stricter. Cases in which an organization's leader receives a heavier sentence than a lone operative are increasing, and the judiciary's stance of holding "ringleaders accountable" for organized crime has become clear.
This article is compiled from publicly available information and court records.