'Slave Play' Playwright Jeremy O. Harris Detained in Japan on Drug Charges

Jeremy O. Harris, the acclaimed creator of the record-breaking Tony-nominated play Slave Play, has been held in Japan for nearly three weeks following his arrest for alleged drug smuggling at Okinawas Naha Airport. The 36-year-old writer and actor, known for his work on Broadway, HBOs Euphoria, and the film Zola, was reportedly found with less than a gram of MDMA in his luggage on November 16.

Harris has remained in Japanese custody under the countrys stringent narcotics regulations. Okinawa customs officials filed a criminal complaint on Thursday, moving the case closer to formal charges. It is currently unknown whether Harris has responded to the allegations or secured legal representation in Japan.

The Yale School of Drama alumnus traveled to Okinawa, a scenic island popular for its beaches located about 930 miles southwest of Tokyo, reportedly for tourism, with a stopover in Taiwan.

Harris gained prominence for Slave Play, a provocative examination of race, sexuality, and power dynamics that became Broadways most nominated play in Tony Awards history. Beyond the stage, he co-wrote the A24 feature Zola with director Janicza Bravo, contributed to Olivier Assayas HBO series Irma Vep, and is involved in adapting Brit Bennetts novel The Vanishing Half for the screen.

Japan enforces some of the worlds toughest drug laws, prosecuting even minor possession offenses, though penalties stop short of death sentences imposed in countries like China and Singapore. Other artists have faced similar legal issues in Japan, including DJ David Morales in 2018 and Paul McCartney in 1980.

Author: Jackson Miller