Playwright-Producer Jeremy O. Harris Jailed in JapanThe Slave Play writer was arrested last month after MDMA was found in his tote bag at Okinawa's Naha Airport.

Playbill ^ | December 5, 2025 | Logan Culwell-Block

[xxqqzz]

Playwright and producer Jeremy O. Harris is currently jailed in Japan, per a report from Reuters. The Slave Play writer was reportedly detained at Okinawa's Naha Airport November 16 after a customs officer found MDMA in one of Harris' bags. Harris was arrested on suspicion of violating the country's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act, and a formal criminal accusation was filed this week.

Japan's drug laws are among the world's strictest. If found guilty, Harris could face up to seven years in prison. Similar situations involving celebrities in the past ended in defendants like Paul McCartney barred from visiting the country for years. Harris continues to be in Japanese custody.

Harris is one of the most prolific young writers and producers in the entertainment industry, rising to prominence with his Tony-nominated Slave Play in 2018. His stage work also includes Daddy: A Melodrama, Black Exhibition, Yell: A Documentary of My Time Here, and Spirit of the People, the latter of which made its world premiere this summer at Williamstown Theatre Festival.

As a producer, Harris has created several play commissioning initiatives, and co-produced Ain't No Mo' and The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window on Broadway, and Invasive Species at Off-Broadway's Vineyard Theatre. On screen, he produced and co-wrote Zola, and acted in Gossip Girl, Emily in Paris, and The Sweet East. He has also produced Irma Vep and Euphoria.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: asia; blackthugsmatter; crime; drugs; japan; jeremyoharris; slave

[xxqqzz]

He is charged with drug smuggling, but almost certainly for his own use. They don't mess around with that sort of thing in Japan. He wrote "Slave Play", about interracial couples who can't get aroused because of slavery. I hope they keep him locked up for a long time.

[wjcsux]

Leftist scumbags don’t understand that numerous countries don’t play by our stupid rules.

[irishjuggler]

Brit Griner II. When will these clowns learn that not every country tolerates their stoner shtick?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

When you go to another country you are a guest.

You do not carry the rights and privileges of your own country with you.

Check their laws before going and don't break them. Or the entire weight of their legal system is going to land on you like a ton of bricks.

This stupid child of privilege is about to find that out.

I really hope it hurts.

[Whatever Works]

“When you go to another country you are a guest.”

I wish that were true in America....sigh .....

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Another FAFO moment.

[Secret Agent Man]

Good grief its Japan. He could have just gotten drunk.

[Vigilanteman]

He can be grateful this didn't happen in Singapore. The Japan prison system will put him to work, give him plenty of time to reflect and possibly even teach him a useful trade.

Beats the h3ll out of getting hanged.

[Disambiguator]

He wrote "Slave Play", about interracial couples who can't get aroused because of slavery.

That sounds almost as bad as "Death of a Salesman" (which I had to read in High School English class - a painful experience).

[struggle]

He’ll likely be deported with a 10-lifetime entry ban. Japanese don’t like putting foreigners in their own prisons.

[Kenny Bania]

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

It actually is the case in reality. But judges keep pretending that they have the same rights as US citizens.

They don't.

[BobL]

“He can be grateful this didn’t happen in Singapore. The Japan prison system will put him to work, give him plenty of time to reflect and possibly even teach him a useful trade.
Beats the h3ll out of getting hanged.”

Or Caned, and then hanged. Also, he’ll learn a useful language while in jail.

[wjcsux]

“He can be grateful this didn’t happen in Singapore. The Japan prison system will put him to work, give him plenty of time to reflect and possibly even teach him a useful trade.”
In Singapore, he would be dead in 30 days or less.

[KittyKares]

I can never understand why people will fool around with taking drugs into or out of a foreign country. They’re so ignorant thinking that every place is like the U.S. You have to mind your behavior in other countries because they actually enforce their laws. They won’t coddle you because you are gay, for example, which I believe he is.

[Steven Scharf]

Japan’s drug laws are among the world’s strictest. If found guilty, Harris could face up to seven years in prison.

Seven years is nothing.

Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries have a death penalty for drup possesion.

[riverrunner]

When we accepted the unconditional surrender of Japan.

We should have wrote in special m rights for US citizen while they are visiting Japan.

Like the right to bear arms.

We defeated them and should have used it to our advantage.

[brookwood]

“His stage work also includes Daddy: A Melodrama, Black Exhibition, Yell: A Documentary of My Time Here, and Spirit of the People, the latter of which made its world premiere this summer at Williamstown Theatre Festival.

As a producer, Harris has co-produced “Ain’t No Mo’” and “Invasive Species” at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre. “

What will America do for entertainment now? Read books about the Mayflower or D-Day? Watch football and Greg Gutfeld? Hmm we might be ok after all.