Overview
- The Metropolitan Police Department detained 40-year-old Hiroaki Obata on Monday on suspicion of violating Tokyo’s organized-crime exclusion ordinance.
- Investigators allege he arranged a ¥600,000 cash payment on July 24, 2023 to a Yamaguchi-gumi affiliate to secure scouting in Shibuya’s Udagawacho district.
- Obata had been on a nationwide wanted list; after more than 30 public tips this month, officers located him on Amami where he was alone with almost no belongings.
- Obata has remained silent in questioning as detectives work to map Natural’s structure, finances, app-based management and links to crime groups.
- Authorities describe Natural as a company-like tokuryu network with about 1,500 members and annual revenue around ¥4.4–¥4.5 billion, operating nationwide since around 2009.