James Higginbotham: Parents Appeal Over US Student Missing in Japan

The parents of an American student who has gone missing in Japan during a family vacation have issued a plea on social media, asking users to help them in the search for their son.

James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, was last seen on May 29 in Kyoto at around 8.15 p.m. local time, with CCTV footage confirming he was at Yamashina station that evening, according to his mother’s post on Facebook.

His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, said on Facebook that the police have “narrowed it down to Weston getting off at the Yamashina station. We don’t know if he got back on the train at any point.”

“Weston is a very experienced hiker and this town has beautiful nature trails. He may have intentionally chosen a quiet trail from Yamashina, especially Bishamon-do, Lake Biwa Canal, Misasagi, Keage/Nanzen-ji, Kyoto Trail, Mount Otowa, or Daigo/Kami-Daigo,” she added.

Nancy Higginbotham also said that she was aware of a “typhoon currently hitting, but I will be there today searching the woods today. 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,” she said.

Nancy Higginbotham has asked that members of the public check hotels, hostels, internet cafes, train stations, convenience stores, hiking areas and “any place near Kyoto, Otsu, Lake Biwa, Yamashina, Shiga, or train lines heading east from Kyoto.” She also added that if anyone sees him, “please do not post his exact location publicly,” and instead call local police immediately and then message her directly on +1(205) 215-8888.

She has also asked that users share the post in any “Kyoto, Japan travel, expat, hostel, hiking, and local community groups.”

In a video posted on Facebook, Nancy Higginbotham said: “I just want to thank you all so much for your continuous thoughts and prayers, we truly feel them…we do feel the love and support that you guys have given us and that the community in Japan has given us as well.”

Newsweek has contacted Higginbotham’s mother via email.

Who Is James “Weston” Higginbotham?

James Higginbotham is 185 centimeters tall (around 6 foot 1), with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white shirt with a plain front and the writing “Save the Bees” on the back with two bumblebees. He was also wearing lavender corduroy pants with a large cuff and old Adidas trainers. He also carried a shoulder bag with the state of Alabama on it.

Per his mother’s post on Facebook, “he is a vegan, in college studying environmental engineering and is an excellent student, very well travelled and an excellent navigator.”

This is a developing story. More to follow.