NYT: Jeremy O. Harris Is Arrested in Japan on Suspicion of Smuggling Drugs- Page 5

[binau]

Posted: 12/7/25 at 2:11am

Thank you, I wasn't sure if Sutton was just being Sutton and making things up again Arnold based on this event (appears so) or if there was anything truthful to what they are saying. I mean, it could still be true but I don't think you can infer anything about that from this event. 

Updated On: 12/7/25 at 02:11 AM

[binau]

Posted: 12/7/25 at 2:12am

....

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/7/25 at 7:06am

spicemonkey said: "Well

considering the history: the US supported and collaborated with the Empire Japan in WWII with steel, oil etc, til Pearl Harbor happened, JOH may be free pretty soon"

Are you high, Clairee?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 6:32am

He's been released and is staying in Japan to write.

would love to know what strings were pulled for this putz.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:49am

Reports of JOH’s career death are greatly exaggerated. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 10:40am

Someone def pulled a favor for this guy because they were referring him for charges on Thursday and he is walking and being allowed to stay on Monday

Updated On: 12/9/25 at 10:40 AM

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 10:51am

iluvtheatertrash said: "He's been released and is staying in Japan to write.

would love to know what strings were pulled for this putz."

It's basically bail -- someone on Twitter linked to a documentary I watched the other day. Was fascinating. 

What's Life Like Inside A Japanese Prison? | Witness | HD Japan Jail Crime Documentary

EDIT: nevermind I'm wrong, they declined to press charges which is the weirdest part of this entire saga... 

Updated On: 12/9/25 at 10:51 AM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 1:19pm

Yeah. Sure sounds like something was done to help him.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 1:38pm

A lot of misreporting, it seems like they held him for a few weeks but didn't charge him, despite the NYT stating otherwise. Bizarre...

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 1:44pm

Maybe they realized how insufferable he'd be for seven years and decided it wasn't worth it.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 3:26pm

Reports say he is now staying in Japan to write for an upcoming project.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 5:20pm

I am happy that this individual is not going to have his life ruined over a victimless act. Probably no more so than I'd be if it were any other total stranger, but I'll take my wins wherever and whenever I can get them.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 5:48pm

kdogg36 said: "I am happy that this individual is not going to have his life ruined over a victimless act. Probably no more so than I'd be if it wereany other total stranger, but I'll take my wins wherever and wheneverI can get them."

Whether we like the laws or not, he violated Japanese law, and the fact that he has been released, when you, me, or many other mere mortals would have been sentenced to 7 years is utterly appalling. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 5:57pm

There was a recent story about a Japanese actress  who drank 6 months before she reached the legal age and she was immediately dropped her from her agency, pulled her out of the TV show she was on, and completely edited out of the remaining episodes that she'd already filmed. But then again, when she was 15-16 they allowed her to get in a bikini and have pictures taken of her in suggestive poses to sell to grown men approved by the same agency that fired her. Japan's culture when it comes to what they view as "impropriety" is DEEPLY broken. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 6:01pm

Matt Rogers said: "kdogg36 said: "I am happy that this individual is not going to have his life ruined over a victimless act. Probably no more so than I'd be if it wereany other total stranger, but I'll take my wins wherever and wheneverI can get them."

Whether we like the laws or not, he violated Japanese law, and the fact that he has been released, when you, me, or many other mere mortals would have been sentenced to 7 years is utterly appalling."

Exactly.

 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 6:11pm

Matt Rogers said: "Whether we like the laws or not, he violated Japanese law, and the fact that he has been released, when you, me, or many other mere mortals would have been sentenced to 7 years is utterly appalling."

No. The fact that my life would have been unjustly destroyed if I were in a similar situation doesn't mean I take offense that reason prevailed in this situation. Quite the contrary, as I said above.

What is appalling to me is the widespread lack of any sense of empathy, or even mercy, in this thread.

Updated On: 12/9/25 at 06:11 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 8:54pm

I don't agree with the punitive Japanese laws in this matter and I certainly didn't want Harris, or anyone else, to receive those penalties. But the fact remains that it seems like he evaded them because of who he is and/or who he knows, and that the overwhelming majority of others in the same position will not be as fortunate.  It's hard to see that as a just or reasonable outcome- it's just as unfair and twisted as the system itself. If this had gone to trial and he prevailed there, I would feel much differently. This won't lead to massive legal reform in Japan- this is a win for a single privileged individual who thought he could pull one over with little consequence and apparently was correct. It's entirely in line with his entire career thus far. 

Updated On: 12/9/25 at 08:54 PM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:04pm

Kad said: "this is a win for a single privileged individual"

I agree with your analysis but, as I said above, I'll take a good outcome where I can get one.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:07pm

I don't view another example of the privileged few operating on an entirely different set of rules than the rest of society as a good outcome- it's how we're in the mess we're in now. Get out of jail free cards should be for all or for none. 

Updated On: 12/9/25 at 09:07 PM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:33pm

Kad said: "I don't view another example of the privileged few operating on an entirely different set of rules than the rest of society as a good outcome- it's how we're in the mess we're in now. Get out of jail free cards should be for all or for none."

It's a good outcome in this sense: JOH being out of prison is more just than him being in prison. The rest of the world is going to be a total unjust ****-show either way.

Nothing at all is improved by JOH being sentenced to prison, and his life is obviously improved by not being sentenced to prison. As I've said repeatedly, a win, however limited.

This is really such an easy calculation for me: 8,992,748 people being destroyed by the War on Drugs is marginally but meaningfully better than 8,992,749. Do you think the world would be a better place if Jeremy O. Harris were given a lengthy prison sentence in Japan?

Updated On: 12/9/25 at 09:33 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:49pm

kdogg36 said: "Nothing at all is improved by JOH being sentenced to prison, and his life is obviously improved by not being sentenced to prison. As I've said repeatedly, a win, however limited."

Being sentenced, no, but someone rich and famous from outside of Japan having to fight the punitive actions (and hopefully coming out on top) is really going to be the only thing that ever moves the needle from those suffering under it on the inside. 

[Kad]

Posted: 12/9/25 at 10:11pm

kdogg36 said: "Kad said: "I don't view another example of the privileged few operating on an entirely different set of rules than the rest of society as a good outcome- it's how we're in the mess we're in now. Get out of jail free cards should be for all or for none."

It's a good outcome in this sense: JOH being out of prison is more just than him being inprison. The rest of the world is going to be a total unjust ****-show either way.

Nothing at all is improved by JOH being sentenced to prison, and his life is obviously improved by not being sentenced to prison. As I've said repeatedly, a win, however limited.

This is really such an easy calculation for me: 8,992,748 people being destroyed by the War on Drugs is marginally but meaningfullybetter than 8,992,749. Do you think the world would be a better place if Jeremy O. Harriswere given a lengthy prison sentence in Japan?" 

I said in my post I didn't want to see him imprisoned and that would have preferred him defend himself in court like everyone else. 

But the War on Drugs as you're referring to it is an American concept. Japanese drug policy is based on uniquely Japanese cultural circumstances and practices and a lot of the laws and culture around it predate our War on Drugs by decades. 

 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/10/25 at 6:56am

kdogg36 said: "Matt Rogers said: "Whether we like the laws or not, he violated Japanese law, and the fact that he has been released, when you, me, or many other mere mortals would have been sentenced to 7 years is utterly appalling."

No. The fact that my life would have been unjustlydestroyedif I were in a similar situation doesn't mean I take offense that reason prevailed in this situation. Quite the contrary, as I said above.

What is appalling to me is the widespread lack of any sense of empathy, or even mercy, in this thread."

I have no empathy for that egomaniacal, misogynistic bully.

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 12/10/25 at 7:04am

Per an article in today's The Guardian, he apparently is still being investigated. Lots of no comments though in the article itself.

Headline:

"Japan releases playwright Jeremy O Harris three weeks after arrest for alleged drug smuggling"

Sub-hed:

"The Emily in Paris actor and writer of the Tony-nominated Slave Play remains in Japan while prosecutors investigate the alleged discovery of MDMA in his bag"

 

[joevitus]

Posted: 12/10/25 at 10:14am

kdogg36 said: "Matt Rogers said: "Whether we like the laws or not, he violated Japanese law, and the fact that he has been released, when you, me, or many other mere mortals would have been sentenced to 7 years is utterly appalling."

No. The fact that my life would have been unjustlydestroyedif I were in a similar situation doesn't mean I take offense that reason prevailed in this situation. Quite the contrary, as I said above.

What is appalling to me is the widespread lack of any sense of empathy, or even mercy, in this thread."

Because Jeremy O. Harris is a man overflowing with empathy and mercy and deserving of same?