The search for James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Alabama college student who disappeared while vacationing in Japan with his family, continues as loved ones, community members, and officials on both sides of the Pacific work tirelessly to bring him home safely.
As concern for Weston’s whereabouts grows, his parents, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham, released an emotional video message expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received from friends, neighbors, and strangers across the United States and Japan. The heartfelt message coincided with a prayer vigil held at Asbury Methodist Church, where members of the Central Alabama community gathered to offer prayers, encouragement, and hope for the young man’s safe return.
“We want to thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers; we do feel them,” Nancy Higginbotham said in the video. Her message reflected both the family’s appreciation for the support they have received and the emotional toll of the ongoing search.
Weston, a Hoover native and 2024 graduate of Spain Park High School, was last seen in the Kyoto area on May 29 while traveling with family members. Since his disappearance, Japanese authorities have launched an extensive search effort while family members continue to appeal to the public for information.
According to updates shared by Nancy Higginbotham, investigators have made progress in retracing some of Weston’s movements before he vanished. Authorities have determined that he exited a train at Yamashina Station, located in eastern Kyoto. However, investigators remain uncertain whether he later boarded another train or continued traveling on foot.
“The police have narrowed it down to Weston getting off at the Yamashina station,” Nancy explained in an update posted Tuesday morning local time in Kyoto. “We don’t know if he got back on the train at any point.”
The area surrounding Yamashina Station contains numerous natural attractions and hiking destinations that investigators are examining closely. Weston, described by his family as a highly experienced hiker and outdoor enthusiast, may have been drawn to the region’s scenic trails and historic landmarks.
His mother noted that several locations in the area could have attracted his attention, including Bishamon-do Temple, the Lake Biwa Canal, Misasagi, Keage and Nanzen-ji, sections of the Kyoto Trail, Mount Otowa, and the Daigo and Kami-Daigo areas. Each location features wooded paths, mountainous terrain, and opportunities for hiking, making them areas of interest for search teams.
As the search has progressed, Nancy Higginbotham has been candid about the emotional anguish her family is experiencing while waiting for answers.
In one particularly heartfelt social media post, she urged the public to remain compassionate and avoid speculation regarding her son’s disappearance.
“Please be kind. We are in our own living hell,” she wrote. “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.”
The family has also acknowledged that Weston may have been experiencing emotional distress prior to his disappearance, though they continue to hope that search efforts will lead to his safe recovery.
Meanwhile, authorities in Japan have significantly expanded their operations in recent days. On Wednesday afternoon local time, Nancy shared another update detailing the extensive resources being deployed in the search.
According to her post, approximately 50 police officers, along with specially trained K9 units and helicopters, were assigned to search heavily wooded areas near where Weston was last believed to have traveled. Searchers spent hours combing through steep, rugged terrain under difficult weather conditions.
“Today, they deployed 50 police officers, K9s, and helicopters to search the heavy wooded area,” Nancy wrote. “They have been working hard since 8:00 a.m. this morning and have not found anything thus far.”
She also expressed gratitude for the extraordinary efforts of Japanese authorities.
“I know it has been difficult for the Japanese police officers, as it is extremely wet outside and the terrain is steep, and I am grateful for their efforts,” she said.
Despite the lack of significant breakthroughs, the family remains determined to stay hopeful.
“We will not lose hope, and we feel all of the love that you are pouring out throughout the day,” Nancy added.
Back home in Alabama, support for Weston and his family continues to grow. The prayer vigil at Asbury Methodist Church brought together friends, classmates, neighbors, and community leaders united by a common goal: praying for Weston’s safe return.
Many who attended described the event as both emotional and uplifting, providing an opportunity for the community to stand with the Higginbotham family during an unimaginably difficult time. Attendees offered prayers not only for Weston but also for the search teams working around the clock in Japan and for the strength of his family as they endure the uncertainty.
State officials have also become involved in supporting efforts to locate the missing Auburn University student.
State Representative Mike Shaw of Hoover confirmed that he and Representative Susan DuBose have been communicating with Japanese diplomatic officials to ensure appropriate resources are being utilized in the search.
“Representative Susan DuBose and I have been in touch with Mark B. Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan, and the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta,” Shaw wrote in a social media post.
“We understand that the appropriate resources are engaged and searching for Weston.”
Shaw also encouraged continued prayers for the family and all those participating in the search effort.
“Let’s all pray for Weston’s safe return, for strength and peace for his family, and for wisdom and endurance for everyone involved in the search,” he said.
Weston is currently a student at Auburn University, where he is studying environmental engineering. Family members and friends describe him as intelligent, adventurous, and passionate about the outdoors. His love of hiking and nature has become a central focus of the ongoing search as authorities attempt to determine where he may have gone after leaving the train station.
As days pass without answers, the search remains active, and the family’s appeal continues to spread across social media platforms and news outlets. Supporters are being asked to continue sharing Weston’s photograph and information in hopes that someone may recognize him or provide a clue that could assist investigators.
For now, the Higginbotham family remains thousands of miles from home, holding onto hope while surrounded by uncertainty. Yet amid the fear and heartbreak, they continue to draw strength from the prayers, encouragement, and support pouring in from Alabama, Japan, and beyond.
The search for James “Weston” Higginbotham remains ongoing.
