As search teams continued combing wooded terrain near Kyoto this week, the parents of missing Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham shared an emotional message thanking supporters in Alabama, Japan and across social media for helping keep their son’s story in the public eye.
Weston, a 20-year-old Hoover native and Auburn environmental engineering student, was last confirmed to be in the Kyoto area on May 29. Since then, family members, law enforcement agencies, volunteers and supporters in Alabama and Japan have joined efforts to locate him.
According to updates shared Wednesday by his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, Japanese authorities continued extensive search operations throughout the day but had not located Weston as of Wednesday evening.
Nancy said approximately 50 police officers, K-9 units and helicopters were deployed to search steep, heavily wooded terrain near Yamashina, where Japanese police determined Weston last exited a train. Search efforts focused on areas near Bishamondo and Otowa, north of Yamashina, with volunteers also assisting in the effort.
“The Japanese police have worked so hard for us thus far,” Nancy said in a social media update. “They have watched endless footage on CCTV cameras throughout the city to find Weston’s last location, which was Yamashina.”
She also thanked the Japanese government and police, the FBI, the U.S. Embassy, Alabama officials, volunteers and friends who have supported the search.
“We will continue to have hope, and we will find Weston,” she wrote.
Nancy said the search would continue Thursday as authorities work through what she described as a large search area.
While search efforts continued overseas, Weston’s parents shared a video message thanking those who attended a prayer vigil Tuesday night at Asbury United Methodist Church in Hoover as well as the thousands of people who have shared information about their son online.
“I just want to thank you all so much for your continuous thoughts and prayers,” Keith and Nancy Higginbotham said in the video. “We truly feel them.”
The couple said they have been encouraged not only by support from home but also by the response they have received from people in Japan.
“We do feel the love and the support that you guys have given us and that the community in Japan has given us as well,” they said.
The family said widespread social media sharing has helped expand awareness of the search and increase visibility in Japan.
“Every comment, every share, everything that you all have done has led us to where we are now,” they said.
The parents urged supporters to continue sharing Weston’s information, saying each repost increases the chances that someone in Japan may recognize him.
“Every time that you guys repost on social media, it’s an opportunity for somebody in Japan to see it,” they said. “That is our ultimate goal, is for people in Japan to see Weston’s face so that they can report back to us.”
Nancy said she has received messages from supporters who reported seeing Weston’s information on Japanese platforms.
The family said the outpouring of support has helped sustain them during an extraordinarily difficult time and expressed confidence that continued awareness will help bring Weston home.
“If you know Weston, you know what a great kid he is,” Keith said. “He has a heart of gold and we all want him to come back safely.”
The family ended their message with a promise to keep searching and a request for continued prayers and support.
“We’re gonna find him,” Keith said. “We’re gonna find him because of everybody’s help and posting and getting the word out.”
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
