American College Student Missing in Japan
An American college student from Alabama has gone missing while on a family vacation in Japan. His parents are now joining the search efforts alongside police and local search teams, hoping to find him in the forested areas nearby.
James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, has not had any contact since May 29, as stated by his mother, Nancy Higginbotham.
In an emotional social media post, she expressed, “We are in a living hell. He was not detained at the party that night, and the police have confirmed it. Please be gentle; I’m already in so much pain.” It’s clear that this situation has taken a heavy toll on the family.
Investigators have reviewed surveillance footage, which shows Weston last at Yamashina Station, located east of Kyoto. This area is known for its popular hiking trails, temples, and scenic forest paths, including routes to Mt. Otowa and the Kyoto Trail Network.
According to his mother, the last activity on Weston’s cell phone occurred around 8:15 p.m., shortly after he arrived at Kyoto Station. Network service was disrupted just minutes later.
Family members suspect he may have taken a local train going east, possibly disembarking at Yamashina Station. Given that he is an environmental engineering student and an experienced hiker, his mother believes he might have been looking for trails in the area.
She also mentioned that Weston could have been experiencing emotional distress around the time he vanished.
In her message, Nancy Higginbotham urged, “If you see him, please don’t publicly share his exact location. Instead, contact your local police immediately and reach out to me.”
Japanese authorities increased their search efforts on Wednesday, deploying 50 officers, a K-9 unit, and a helicopter to comb through wooded regions near the station.
Despite the harsh weather conditions affecting parts of the area, Nancy praised the officers for their dedication on social media. Prior to a typhoon, she and her husband searched the bushes around Yamashina with flashlights but had to retreat due to the challenging terrain and wildlife concerns.
Weston is about 6 feet 1 inch tall, has long blonde hair, and blue eyes. His mother shared that at the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a shirt that said “Save the Bees,” lavender corduroy pants, and Adidas sneakers with white stripes. He also had a shoulder bag featuring the outline of Alabama.
Even with the ongoing search efforts, the family remains hopeful. Nancy concluded her post, “We never lose hope. We feel all the love you’re giving us throughout the day.”
