How the First Hearing Unfolded
The first hearing in the trial of Hiroaki Obata (41), head of the illegal scout group "Natural," charged with violating the Employment Security Act (operating a fee-charging employment-placement business without a license) for introducing women to adult-entertainment establishments, was held on May 21, 2026, at the Tokyo District Court (presiding judge Seiji Tanaka).
Immediately after the hearing opened, when the presiding judge asked him to confirm the charges, Obata said, "I do not contest them," fully admitting the charges.
The Prosecution's Opening Statement
In its opening statement, the prosecution explained in detail how things had unfolded from the group's formation to the indictment.
Obata is said to have founded "Natural" around 2009 and begun a business of scouting women on the street and via social media and introducing them to adult-entertainment establishments. His subordinate members carried out street solicitation and contact via social media, centered on the Tokyo metropolitan area, and he continued to receive about 20% of the monthly income of the scouted women as a referral fee known as a "scout-back."
The Contents of the Indictment
According to the indictment, Obata is alleged to have conspired with group members between 2023 and 2024 to introduce several women in their 20s, whom they had scouted, to adult-entertainment establishments in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, and Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. This is part of the matters confirmed in the series of investigations, and the group's actual scope of activity is believed to have been even wider.
The Reality of Natural
The picture of the Natural organization revealed by the investigation is as follows.
- Founding: around 2009 (founded by Obata alone)
- Period of activity: at least about 15 years, from 2009 to 2024
- Area of activity: centered on Tokyo, and extending across the entire Kanto region including Saitama, Chiba, Gunma, and Kanagawa
- Scouting methods: street solicitation and contact using social media (Twitter, Instagram, and the like)
- Revenue structure: continuously receiving about 20% of the women's monthly income from the adult-entertainment establishments to which they were introduced
At its peak, the group is said to have had more than 20 scout members and to have earned stable revenue by forming "exclusive contracts" with multiple adult-entertainment establishments.
Obata's Role Within the Group
In its opening statement, the prosecution pointed out that Obata, as the overall head of the group, directly directed all of the following: (1) recruiting and managing scout members, (2) negotiating and contracting with adult-entertainment establishments, and (3) managing and distributing the revenue.
"The defendant was not merely an operative; as the group's founder and manager, he led an organized illegal scouting business for about 15 years," the prosecutor said.
From the Start of the Investigation in 2023 to the Present Trial
About three years passed between June 2023, when the Metropolitan Police Department began searches of related premises, and this first hearing. During that time, the arrests and guilty verdicts of several executives preceded his case, and Obata's arrest was realized in the autumn of 2025. The first hearing came about half a year after his indictment.
The Outlook for the Trial
Because Obata fully admitted the charges, the focus of the trial going forward will be "determining the sentence." The defense has indicated a policy of "the defendant is sincerely remorseful, and we seek a lenient verdict," but given the weight of the fact that this was organized conduct spanning about 15 years, an actual prison sentence is seen as unavoidable.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 18, when questioning of the defendant and the prosecution's closing argument and sentencing recommendation are expected to take place.
Background: The Whole Picture of the Illegal Scouting Problem
The "Natural" case is a matter that symbolizes the complex problems surrounding Japan's adult-entertainment industry.
What is illegal scouting?
The Employment Security Act provides that a "fee-charging employment-placement business," which introduces jobs for a fee, requires the permission of a public employment security office (Article 30 of the Act). Introducing women to adult-entertainment establishments without permission and receiving compensation (a scout-back) violates this provision.
The situation of the victimized women
Many women who are victimized by illegal scouting are lured with false promises such as "high-paying hospitality work" or "modeling jobs," and in many cases they are placed in a "situation where it is hard to refuse" even after learning the reality. There are also cases where scout organizations make it impossible to escape by making the women run up debts or by gaining control of their personal information.
Stronger enforcement in the 2020s
Entering the 2020s, the Metropolitan Police Department substantially strengthened its enforcement against illegal scouting. The number of crackdowns has increased year by year, and the arrest and indictment of the ringleader of "Natural" can be called the culmination of those efforts.
This article is compiled from Jiji Press reporting of May 21, 2026, and from interviews with investigation sources.