Paris Hilton: Barred From Entering Japan, But Why?

(Sept. 22) -- The Far East is keeping Paris Hilton far, far away.

The hotel heiress was detained and denied entry to Japan when she attempted to enter the country just two days after pleading guilty to drug charges in Las Vegas. Hilton was scheduled to make an appearance today in Tokyo in support of her fashion and fragrance lines.

(Note: This incident is not to be confused with local Arizona indie-alt-rock quartet Banned From Japan.)

"Paris is very disappointed and fought hard to keep her business commitments and see her fans, but she is forced to postpone her commitments in Asia," read a statement from Hilton's publicist Dawn Miller. Paris also canceled scheduled stops in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

A representative from the Japanese consulate in New York City said they were unable to comment on the incident (but Surge Desk digs the Super Nintendo-style hold music on the consulate phone lines).

Given Japan's notorious reputation for hassling celebrities at the border, the 29-year-old Hilton now joins a long list of public figures with a "Japan immigration story." According to The Associated Press, The Rolling Stones struggled for many years to enter the country, and in 1980, Paul McCartney was arrested and subsequently deported for marijuana possession at the Narita Airport.

Japan's drug enforcement policies are fierce, with violators subject to immediate solitary confinement with potential long jail sentences and fines. According to the U.S. Department of State "suspects are detained incommunicado, which bars them from receiving visitors or corresponding with anyone other than a lawyer or a U.S. consular officer until after indictment."

Plus, if Steve Jobs can't leave Japan carrying ninja stars in his private jet (allegedly), Paris isn't getting through with a two-day-old drug charge in her pocket.

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