Auburn University Student Missing in Japan During Family Trip
Parents Nancy and Keith Higginbotham are seeking assistance in locating their son, James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, who vanished during a family vacation in Kyoto, Japan. He was last tracked on May 29 when his cellphone location went offline, leading to an emergency search. The family suspects he may be experiencing emotional distress and simply needed some time alone.
In a recent interview, the Higginbothams shared information about their son’s disappearance, which occurred near Yamashina Station in eastern Kyoto. “We decided to part ways for a while after a bit of bickering,” Nancy explained. “I mean, he’s 20 and pretty well-traveled, so we thought it was fine.” She noted they had been sharing a hotel room for six days, leading to typical holiday tensions.
Nancy mentioned that they had been using a location-tracking app, Life360, which initially showed Weston near the river and possibly visiting some stores before he boarded a train. However, his location then “went completely dark.” When asked about social media comments suggesting he might be in distress, she reiterated that he “just needed some alone time.”
“We wanted to make sure to say goodbye,” she continued. “For him, hiking and being in nature is really important. It’s normal to need some space at that age; you want to explore on your own.”
Weston is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall with long blonde hair and blue eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he was reportedly wearing a shirt with “Save the Bees” printed on it, along with lavender corduroy pants and Adidas sneakers. He had a shoulder bag featuring the outline of Alabama.
Nancy has been posting updates on social media about the ongoing search, which involves numerous police officers, K-9 units, and helicopters combing through wooded areas. The vicinity of Yamashina boasts many hiking trails and temples, including those leading to Mt. Otowa and the Kyoto Trail Network.
The parents expressed gratitude for the efforts of local police, the U.S. Embassy in Japan, and the FBI, which they described as “excellent.” “They dispatched 50 additional officers, and I heard it was pretty muddy,” Nancy explained, sharing that the search teams included dogs and helicopters.
Despite the unsettling situation, the family remains optimistic about Weston’s safe return, believing he has the skills to survive in the wilderness. “The water is fresh, and he knows how to find food. He can manage out there, and we’re confident we’ll locate him,” Nancy said.
