When Do You Learn Sir - Blog Posts
On January 16 1980, Paul McCartney and the Wings arrived In Tokyo for upcoming 11-dates Wings tour in Japan. Customs Officials found 219 grams (7.7 ounces) of cannabis in Paul’s luggage and arrested him.
Paul was sent to the local jail and spent 9 days there while the Japanese government decided on what to do with him. He was facing a possible seven-year sentence for smuggling if convicted.
"When the fellow pulled it out of the suitcase, he looked more embarrassed than me. I think he just wanted to put it back in and forget the whole thing, you know, but there it was. I didn’t try to hide it. I had just come from America and still had the American attitude that marijuana isn’t that bad. I didn’t realize just how strict the Japanese attitude is. I made a confession on the night I was arrested and apologized for breaking Japanese law, but they still wanted to know everything. I had to go through my whole life story—school, father’s name, income, even my medal from the Queen." Paul McCartney
While in jail, Paul was known as inmate #22 and impressed the guards with his politeness. He passed the time with exercising, talking to other prisoners and overall, Paul said he was treated well. On the sixth day, Linda was allowed to visit, giving him clothes and new books.
"It’s really very silly. People certainly are different over here. They take it so very seriously. Paul is now in some kind of detention place and I have not been allowed to see him. As soon as they get someone nice like Paul, they seem to make a field day of it! I’ll never come back to Japan again. It’s my first trip and my last!" Linda McCartney
On the eighth day, the Japanese government decided to immediately deport Paul without charges. On January 25th, Paul was released from the jail, placed in a car and was driven straight to the airport when Linda, his children and fellow Wings members were waiting for him and flew back to England.
George Harrison was the only Beatle to send a telegram to the McCartneys during the nine days:
Thinking of you with all love. Keep your spirits high. Nice to have you back home again soon. God bless. Love, George and Olivia.
According to a housekeeper of the Lennon's, John's supposed reaction was, "If he really needs weed, surely there's enough people who can carry it for him. You're a Beatle, boy, a Beatle. Your face is in every damn corner of the planet. How could you have been so stupid."
Years later, Paul has acknowledged the foolish of his decision and the challenges he faced during that period. Paul did return to Japan in 1990 for a tour without incident.