American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris, creator of the Broadway sensation Slave Play, has been detained for nearly three weeks in southern Japan after authorities accused him of trying to bring a small amount of MDMA into the country, according to Japanese officials and international media. Harris, 36, was arrested Nov. 16 at Naha Airport in Okinawa after customs inspectors allegedly found less than a gram of the synthetic stimulant in his bag.
An Okinawa Regional Customs spokesperson told Reuters that officers acted after spotting a “crystalline substance of concern” during luggage screening. Tests indicated the material contained MDMA, banned under Japanese law. “The item fell under controlled substances,” the spokesperson said, noting even tiny quantities can trigger prosecution.
Harris has been held without bail since his arrest—a common outcome in Japan, where prosecutors can detain suspects while deciding on charges. Officials in Tomigusuku, where Harris is detained, have not said whether he has denied the allegation or provided a statement. A law enforcement official said only, “The investigation remains active, and no indictment has been issued.”
The case marks an abrupt interruption of what was expected to be a busy winter for Harris, who rose to prominence with Slave Play, a searing exploration of race, intimacy, and American history that became the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history. Harris has since balanced theater with a growing screen career, contributing to HBO’s Euphoria, co-writing A24’s Zola, and participating in projects for filmmakers including Olivier Assayas. Variety, which first reported his absence from several planned engagements, said his representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
Customs officials said Harris arrived in Okinawa from the UK with a layover in Taiwan, reportedly for tourism. Okinawa, over 900 miles southwest of Tokyo, is a top Japanese resort destination known for coral reefs, a subtropical climate, and a large U.S. military presence. The island attracts millions of visitors each year, especially in the fall.
Japan’s narcotics regulations remain among the most stringent in the developed world. Even small amounts of substances such as MDMA typically lead to detention, forensic analysis, and lengthy prosecutorial review. Tokyo-based criminal attorney Mariko Endo, who is not affiliated with Harris’ case, said Japan’s legal structure reflects an uncompromising stance toward drugs. “The system is designed to prevent leniency at the front end,” Endo said. “Suspects are often held for weeks because prosecutors require a high degree of certainty before moving forward.”
Though Japan stops short of the death sentences imposed in Singapore or China, drug crimes often result in multi-year prison terms, especially if smuggling is alleged. Conviction rates top 99 percent once charges are filed.
Harris’ arrest recalls the experiences of other artists who encountered Japan’s strict laws. DJ David Morales was arrested in 2018 when authorities found MDMA at Fukuoka Airport, but charges were dropped when tests cleared him. In 1980, former Beatle Paul McCartney spent nine days in detention for marijuana possession, leading to expulsion and a long-term entry ban.
As of Thursday, Okinawa prosecutors had received a formal customs complaint—a typical precursor to indictment—but had given no timeline. Legal observers say proceedings could take weeks, pending lab confirmation, interviews, and review.
For now, Harris remains in custody as his future in Japan’s criminal system remains uncertain. His absence from public events, combined with his prominent standing in theater and film, has heightened global attention on a case that illustrates how quickly Japan’s stringent drug enforcement policies can escalate, even for visiting artists unaware of the system’s severity.
