\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe search continues for an Auburn University student missing in Japan. Officials and family members are searching after he disappeared during a family trip.James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, was last confirmed in the Kyoto area on May 29 while traveling with his family. Authorities are treating his disappearance as a missing persons case, as there is currently no evidence suggesting there has been a crime, officers told CNN.The Latest Updates The family was on vacation when Weston and his mother got into a disagreement over the ramifications of using ChatGPT to navigate their trip. He decided to explore Kyoto on his own, saying he needed some space. That was the last time they saw him.Weston Higginbotham’s location on his phone was turned off. Police are treating it as a missing persons case.Police are searching on foot with K-9s and using helicopters near Bishamondo, which is near Yamashina. Anyone who sees Higginbotham is asked not to publicly post his location but instead contact local police immediately and then notify the family.The searchOfficials are searching with K-9s, on foot and with helicopters near Bishamondo Wednesday, which is the area near Yamashina.Below is a look at the search. That is the area where police used surveillance video to piece together his movements and find Weston’s last location. As the search continues, the family is also dealing with difficult weather conditions. A typhoon moved through the region Tuesday, complicating efforts to search trails and wooded areas.Ordinary Japanese civilians have also pitched in to help, according to CNN.\u201cIt almost brings me to tears, of what these Japanese people have done for us,\u201d Higginbotham told CNN, describing volunteers who traveled hours by train to hand out flyers, or who helped act as translators at various police stations. Video below: Parents of Auburn student missing in Japan discuss the searchWhen asked for comment, the FBI told CNN that it is \u201cready to assist our international partners with any requests for assistance.\u201d CNN has sought comment from the US State Department.\u201cWe have all the hope that he\u2019s going to be found somewhere,\u201d said Weston\u2019s father, Keith. \u201cHe pops up at another train station, I don\u2019t know \u2013 but until we find him, one way or another, he\u2019s out there, he\u2019s moving somewhere, and we\u2019re going to find him.\u201dWhat we know happenedThe family was on vacation when Weston and his mother got into a disagreement over the ramifications of using ChatGPT to navigate their trip. He decided to explore Kyoto on his own, saying he needed some space.\u201cIt\u2019s not unusual for Weston to blow off steam going to the woods and just exploring. That\u2019s his happy place,\u201d Higginbotham told CNN. \u201cI\u2019m thinking \u2026 he\u2019s just off in the woods, and he got lost.\u201dWeston typically shares his location with his family on the app Life360, which offered some clues to his whereabouts before he went missing.\u201cWhile we were visiting a temple, Weston gets on a train,\u201d Higginbotham said. \u201cWe\u2019re texting him, saying, \u2018Hey, where are you?\u2019 You know, \u2018What are you doing?\u2019\u201d The family saw through the app that Weston stopped by a few stores before jumping back on the train \u2013 then his location was turned off.That was alarming and \u201cso out of character,\u201d Higginbotham said. He had never turned off his location before. By 2 a.m., with no sign of Weston, the family reported him missing to local authorities.Though the Yamashina train station is fairly small, it\u2019s connected to four train lines and is one stop away from Kyoto\u2019s main station. The Yamashina area lies on the border between Kyoto and Shiga prefectures and is surrounded by mountains, including the heavily forested Higashiyama mountain range.Weston Higginbotham was confirmed to have made a purchase at a Kohnan hardware store in the Kyoto area. Family members believe he was traveling east from Kyoto on a local train along the Biwako Line, also known as the Tokaido Main Line, or the Kosei Line.His mother said she is concerned he may be in emotional distress. Speaking from Kyoto, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham said volunteers, social media users and complete strangers have played a critical role in helping the family search for Weston.Help neededNow, she says, the family’s biggest challenge is getting Weston’s photo and story in front of more Japanese residents.”I need Japanese media contacts,” she said on Tuesday. “My biggest hurdle is getting it out to Japanese residents.”While social media has helped spread information across the United States, Keith believes reaching more people in Japan is imperative, because they are the ones most likely to encounter Weston if he is moving through the area.”He stands out in the crowd, because he looks nothing like everyone else here, with his blond hair and his height,” he said. “So he is easy to locate if you just know to look for him. So getting in front of more people here so that they know to look for him is key.”On Wednesday, Nancy Higginbotham posted on social media, “We finally reached our ultimate media goal- we are on CNN International spreading Weston\u2019s picture and story and CNN Tokyo is coming to our apartment in Kyoto now. We also just finished an interview with The Japan Times. Getting Weston\u2019s picture in front of Japanese citizens is key.”About James HigginbothamHigginbotham is described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall with long blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a shirt with a white front and the words “Save the Bees” with two bumblebees on the back, lavender corduroy pants with a large cuff, and worn white Adidas shoes with black stripes and wide shoelaces.He was carrying a shoulder bag featuring the outline of the state of Alabama.”If anyone knows Weston, he’s a vegan pacifist. He doesn’t even kill mosquitoes,” his mother said. “He’s the nicest child.”Because of his experience and independence, Nancy said there was little reason for concern when he spent time on his own during the family’s trip.A Spain Park High School graduate and Auburn student studying environmental engineering, Higginbotham is described by his mother as an excellent student, experienced traveler and skilled navigator. He is also an avid hiker. Support in AlabamaAlabama State Rep. Mike Shaw said he and State Rep. Susan DuBose have been in contact with Mark B. Jackson, honorary consul general of Japan, and the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta regarding the search.Shaw, who chairs the Japan Legislative Exchange in the Alabama House of Representatives, said officials have been assured that “appropriate resources” have been engaged in the search for Higginbotham.”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. As his family searches for answers overseas, support is growing back home in Central Alabama, where loved ones, friends and community members gathered Tuesday at Asbury United Methodist Church to pray for his safe return.Listen to Weston’s parents thank people for their support below.At the prayer gathering, that hope was at the center of every message. Higginbotham\u2019s family is working to spread word of his disappearance as widely as possible and hopes anyone with information will come forward. They say they are thankful for the support they have received so far and are asking people to continue praying for his safe return.This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest stories with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tKYOTO, Kyoto \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The search continues for an Auburn University student missing in Japan. Officials and family members are searching after he disappeared during a family trip.<\/p>\n
James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, was last confirmed in the Kyoto area on May 29 while traveling with his family. <\/p>\n
Authorities are treating his disappearance as a missing persons case, as there is currently no evidence suggesting there has been a crime, officers told CNN.<\/p>\n
The Latest Updates The family was on vacation when Weston and his mother got into a disagreement over the ramifications of using ChatGPT to navigate their trip. He decided to explore Kyoto on his own, saying he needed some space. That was the last time they saw him.Weston Higginbotham’s location on his phone was turned off. Police are treating it as a missing persons case.Police are searching on foot with K-9s and using helicopters near Bishamondo, which is near Yamashina. <\/p>\n
Anyone who sees Higginbotham is asked not to publicly post his location but instead contact local police immediately and then notify the family.<\/p>\n
The search<\/p>\n
Officials are searching with K-9s, on foot and with helicopters near Bishamondo Wednesday, which is the area near Yamashina.<\/p>\n
Below is a look at the search. <\/p>\n
That is the area where police used surveillance video to piece together his movements and find Weston’s last location. <\/p>\n
As the search continues, the family is also dealing with difficult weather conditions. A typhoon moved through the region Tuesday, complicating efforts to search trails and wooded areas.<\/p>\n
Ordinary Japanese civilians have also pitched in to help, according to CNN.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt almost brings me to tears, of what these Japanese people have done for us,\u201d Higginbotham told CNN, describing volunteers who traveled hours by train to hand out flyers, or who helped act as translators at various police stations. <\/p>\n
Video below: Parents of Auburn student missing in Japan discuss the search<\/p>\n
When asked for comment, the FBI told CNN that it is \u201cready to assist our international partners with any requests for assistance.\u201d CNN has sought comment from the US State Department.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have all the hope that he\u2019s going to be found somewhere,\u201d said Weston\u2019s father, Keith. \u201cHe pops up at another train station, I don\u2019t know \u2013 but until we find him, one way or another, he\u2019s out there, he\u2019s moving somewhere, and we\u2019re going to find him.\u201d<\/p>\n
What we know happened<\/p>\n
The family was on vacation when Weston and his mother got into a disagreement over the ramifications of using ChatGPT to navigate their trip. He decided to explore Kyoto on his own, saying he needed some space.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not unusual for Weston to blow off steam going to the woods and just exploring. That\u2019s his happy place,\u201d Higginbotham told CNN. \u201cI\u2019m thinking \u2026 he\u2019s just off in the woods, and he got lost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weston typically shares his location with his family on the app Life360, which offered some clues to his whereabouts before he went missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we were visiting a temple, Weston gets on a train,\u201d Higginbotham said. \u201cWe\u2019re texting him, saying, \u2018Hey, where are you?\u2019 You know, \u2018What are you doing?\u2019\u201d The family saw through the app that Weston stopped by a few stores before jumping back on the train \u2013 then his location was turned off.<\/p>\n
That was alarming and \u201cso out of character,\u201d Higginbotham said. He had never turned off his location before. By 2 a.m., with no sign of Weston, the family reported him missing to local authorities.<\/p>\n
Though the Yamashina train station is fairly small, it\u2019s connected to four train lines and is one stop away from Kyoto\u2019s main station. The Yamashina area lies on the border between Kyoto and Shiga prefectures and is surrounded by mountains, including the heavily forested Higashiyama mountain range.<\/p>\n
Weston Higginbotham was confirmed to have made a purchase at a Kohnan hardware store in the Kyoto area. Family members believe he was traveling east from Kyoto on a local train along the Biwako Line, also known as the Tokaido Main Line, or the Kosei Line.<\/p>\n
His mother said she is concerned he may be in emotional distress. <\/p>\n
Speaking from Kyoto, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham said volunteers, social media users and complete strangers have played a critical role in helping the family search for Weston.<\/p>\n
Help needed<\/p>\n
Now, she says, the family’s biggest challenge is getting Weston’s photo and story in front of more Japanese residents.<\/p>\n
“I need Japanese media contacts,” she said on Tuesday. “My biggest hurdle is getting it out to Japanese residents.”<\/p>\n
While social media has helped spread information across the United States, Keith believes reaching more people in Japan is imperative, because they are the ones most likely to encounter Weston if he is moving through the area.<\/p>\n
“He stands out in the crowd, because he looks nothing like everyone else here, with his blond hair and his height,” he said. “So he is easy to locate if you just know to look for him. So getting in front of more people here so that they know to look for him is key.”<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Nancy Higginbotham posted on social media, “We finally reached our ultimate media goal- we are on CNN International spreading Weston\u2019s picture and story and CNN Tokyo is coming to our apartment in Kyoto now. We also just finished an interview with The Japan Times. Getting Weston\u2019s picture in front of Japanese citizens is key.”<\/p>\n
About James Higginbotham<\/p>\n
Higginbotham is described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall with long blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a shirt with a white front and the words “Save the Bees” with two bumblebees on the back, lavender corduroy pants with a large cuff, and worn white Adidas shoes with black stripes and wide shoelaces.<\/p>\n
He was carrying a shoulder bag featuring the outline of the state of Alabama.<\/p>\n
“If anyone knows Weston, he’s a vegan pacifist. He doesn’t even kill mosquitoes,” his mother said. “He’s the nicest child.”<\/p>\n
Because of his experience and independence, Nancy said there was little reason for concern when he spent time on his own during the family’s trip.<\/p>\n
A Spain Park High School graduate and Auburn student studying environmental engineering, Higginbotham is described by his mother as an excellent student, experienced traveler and skilled navigator. He is also an avid hiker. <\/p>\n
Support in Alabama<\/p>\n
Alabama State Rep. Mike Shaw said he and State Rep. Susan DuBose have been in contact with Mark B. Jackson, honorary consul general of Japan, and the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta regarding the search.<\/p>\n
Shaw, who chairs the Japan Legislative Exchange in the Alabama House of Representatives, said officials have been assured that “appropriate resources” have been engaged in the search for Higginbotham.<\/p>\n
“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. <\/p>\n
As his family searches for answers overseas, support is growing back home in Central Alabama, where loved ones, friends and community members gathered Tuesday at Asbury United Methodist Church to pray for his safe return.<\/p>\n
Listen to Weston’s parents thank people for their support below.<\/p>\n
At the prayer gathering, that hope was at the center of every message. Higginbotham\u2019s family is working to spread word of his disappearance as widely as possible and hopes anyone with information will come forward. They say they are thankful for the support they have received so far and are asking people to continue praying for his safe return.<\/p>\n