Playwright Jeremy O. Harris recounts a jarring experience: 23 days spent imprisoned in Japan. He contrasts this with the potential ease of navigating legal troubles in the United States, where connections and financial resources can often provide a swift resolution.

A Return to Tokyo, A Different Reception

Three years prior, Harris had enjoyed a four-week stay in Tokyo, fondly recalling the welcoming atmosphere of the Edition hotel. He had dreamed of experiencing the same courteous greeting as Bill Murray in Lost in Translation. When a Japanese production company offered to produce his play “Daddy”: A Melodrama during the COVID-19 pandemic, he eagerly accepted, anticipating a similar warm welcome.

The Arrest at Customs

Upon arriving at the Edition hotel on November 16, 2025, Harris was met with suspicion rather than exuberance. Just 14 days earlier, Reuters had published a headline announcing his arrest on alleged drug smuggling charges. After a long journey from Poland, London, Bangkok, and Taipei, he found himself detained at customs.

Harris’s initial impatience – questioning the delay while having dinner reservations – should have been a warning sign. He attempted to maintain his optimism, believing his manager would intervene. He even tried engaging his translator in conversation about Okinawa, hoping to build rapport.

A Misunderstanding Over Supplements

The situation escalated when a customs guard noticed a container of lion’s mane mushroom gummies in Harris’s bag. While legal, the gummies’ packaging, featuring a prominent mushroom image, led to suspicion. A woman pointed at the bag and exclaimed “drugos” in Japanese.

Harris protested, explaining the gummies were a natural supplement to aid focus. However, a thorough search of his belongings revealed the issue wasn’t the gummies, but something he’d overlooked. He had been carrying a container he hadn’t noticed in five months.

The Search and Initial Detention

Customs officials meticulously searched Harris’s belongings, even commenting on a Tory Burch scarf. He attempted to explain his purpose in Okinawa – to make a film – and clarify that the mushrooms were not drugs. He offered to let them check his toiletries, stating they contained only skincare and an electric toothbrush.

The female guard’s discovery within the toiletry bag led to his detention. Harris had hoped his friends waiting at the airport would witness his situation and intervene, but his hopes were quickly dashed.