Overview
- Obata Hiroaki, 41, was re-arrested and three others were arrested on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Law for introducing women to sex establishments.
- The suspects allegedly conspired from September to November 2023 to broker a woman in her 20s to a delivery-health shop in Takasaki, Gunma, after recruiting her via social media.
- Police identified the additional suspects as group member Takaki Sakaguchi, 28, de facto shop operator Ryota Honjo, 39, and shop employee Taku Tajima, 41, with their pleas not disclosed.
- Investigators say Obata discussed referral payments with the shop and that Sakaguchi acted as a collector for 'scout-back' fees paid by the business.
- Authorities describe 'Natural' as an anonymous, fluid network active nationwide with about 1,500 participants and roughly ¥4.45 billion in referral income in 2022, and note Obata’s January arrest for allegedly paying yakuza protection money.