Parents of Missing Auburn Student Join Search in Japan

The parents of an Auburn University student who went missing during a family vacation in Japan have said they are “in our own living hell” as they join desperate efforts to find him.

James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old graduate of Spain Park High School in Alabama, went missing on 29 May from the Kyoto area in southern Japan.

His parents, Nancy and Keith, posted on Facebook that police have tracked down some of his movements and understand he got off a train at Yamashina Station, although they don’t know if he got back on the train at any point.

“Please be kind. We are in our own living hell,” his mom wrote on Facebook. “He is not detained from a night out partying. The police have confirmed this. Please, I beg you, be kind. I'm already in so much pain.”

Higginbotham is an experienced hiker, they said, and may have “intentionally chosen a quiet trail” in the area, his mother added.

He might be “emotionally distressed”, she said, stressing that the search for him is urgent amid concerns of a major storm lashing Japan.

“I know there is a typhoon currently hitting, but I will be there today searching the woods today,” his mom wrote.

“My husband and I went last night with flashlights and headlamps and didn't get too far because we weren't prepared for the wildlife we encountered.

“If anyone wants to join us after the storm, I would be grateful.”

Storm Jangmi , which was earlier a typhoon and now a tropical storm, battered the subtropical island of Okinawa on Monday but is now headed to the Kansai region, which includes Kyoto.

Higginbotham is described as 185cm tall, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white shirt which says ‘Save the Bees’, lavender corduroy pants and beat up white Adidas shoes. He also has a shoulder bag with the state of Alabama written on it.

He is studying environmental engineering in college and is described as an excellent student, very well travelled and a good navigator.

The family has been on a trip since 25 May. Higginbotham arrived at Kyoto station four days later at around 8:15p.m. and lost the network on his phone at 8:29 p.m. His family say it appears that he was on a local subway train eastwards towards the Tokyo direction.

In an emotional video update on Facebook, the couple thanked all those who helped actively in the search and shared the search online. The missing man’s father said they are getting “closer and closer to finding him and we couldn’t do it without your support”.

“We want to thank you all so much from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and prayers,” they wrote alongside the video message on Tuesday evening, which was Wednesday morning Japan time.

“We’ve been touched by the support from our friends, family, government, and even those who don’t know us from the U.S. and from Japan. It helps keep us positive and strong.”

They added that they would soon be updating on the search and rescue efforts taking place in Japan.

The parents asked people to share their posts to Kyoto, Japan travel, expat, hostel, hiking, and local community groups online.