Japanese police intensified their search for 20-year-old Auburn student Weston Higginbotham, missing in Kyoto since May 29. Volunteers are joining the effort.
KYOTO, Japan — Japanese authorities expanded their search Thursday for a 20-year-old Auburn University student from Hoover who disappeared during a family vacation in Kyoto, as the missing man’s family provided new information on the effort.
James “Weston” Higginbotham was last seen May 29 after separating from his family to explore Kyoto on his own. Surveillance footage placed him at Yamashina Station, east of central Kyoto, that evening. His phone lost service at 8:29 p.m., shortly after arriving at Kyoto Station at around 8:15 p.m.
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Japanese police deployed about 50 officers, K9 units and helicopters to search a heavily wooded area near Yamashina. Ordinary Japanese civilians have also pitched in to help, handing out flyers and acting as translators at various police stations.
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On Thursday, Nancy Higginbotham — Weston’s mother — posted an update on social media:
It’s 11:15 pm in Kyoto on June 4th. We started interviews at 3am and had 10 total. It’s been a long, stressful day.
Today, dozens of Japanese police officers searched through waist-high mud in an effort to find Weston. Search dogs and helicopters were also deployed. We had to wait in the apartment during the search.
The search was extensive, and the officers were incredibly thorough in the difficult conditions. Based on what locals witnessed today, we have GREAT confidence in the professionalism and dedication of the Japanese authorities and do not believe any area within the search zone was overlooked. They are meticulous.
The area where we believe Weston is missing has ample water and limited berries. There is still hope.
The police will reconvene tomorrow to come up with another plan to include watching additional CCTV footage to follow up on another lead. They are also deploying a smaller team to the forest.
We were able to get Weston’s story on several Japanese networks today to include CNN, CNN Tokoyo, Japan Times and local Kyoto news. Keeping his story alive is essential. Some interviews we can keep it together, some we are so numb that we hardly have emotion, and some we just break down in desperation.
The local residents have continued to be so helpful spreading the word. People are passing out flyers at the Yashamina train station, coming to our apartment to map out our next hiking sections, and 100s of texts a day of people offering to help.
But we could not keep up this pace if it weren’t for your encouraging messages, prayers, ideas and connections. Our emotions are all over the place and every time we lose hope for a second, we receive an encouraging message from you. It keeps us going.
The Yamashina area borders Kyoto and Shiga prefectures and sits near the forested Higashiyama mountain range.
A typhoon brought heavy rain and concern for Higginbotham’s safety if he was in the mountains, though police say he may have moved to another location.
Family members feared he could be “emotionally distressed.” Nancy Higginbotham described him as “a very experienced hiker” and said the town has beautiful nature trails.
Despite the difficult search, the family said it has been overwhelmed by support from local Japanese residents, including volunteers who helped distribute flyers and translate conversations with authorities.
Nancy Higginbotham praised officers working in heavy rain and steep terrain.
“The Japanese police have worked so hard for us,” she said.
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