What began as a family vacation in Japan quickly turned into a heartbreaking international search for 20-year-old James “Weston” Higginbotham after he disappeared in Kyoto during a trip meant to celebrate his younger brother’s graduation. Weston, an Auburn University student studying ecological engineering, was last seen on May 29, 2026, wearing a white “Save the Bees” shirt and carrying a shoulder bag with the state of Alabama on it. According to his family, he separated from them after a disagreement with his mother about the environmental impact of AI tools used during the trip. CCTV later tracked him near Kyoto’s Yamashina area, known for its hiking trails and wooded paths, before his phone and location services suddenly went dark. His parents described the silence as deeply unusual, saying Weston had never disappeared or cut off contact before. Friends, volunteers, police officers, and search-and-rescue teams joined the effort as storms and difficult terrain complicated the search.

As more details emerged, loved ones painted a picture of Weston as a compassionate, intelligent, and adventurous young man who cared deeply about sustainability, nature, and people. A vegan and triathlete, he dreamed of developing sustainable engineering solutions and loved hiking, traveling, and reading about the natural world. Friends described him as kind and dependable, with one childhood friend recalling how Weston helped him adjust to life in the United States when he struggled to speak English. One haunting detail from the search involved a final heart reaction Weston sent to a friend’s message before all communication stopped. Sadly, on June 6, volunteers discovered his body in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, and authorities stated no foul play was suspected. His death devastated family, friends, and the Auburn community, who remembered him not only for the mystery surrounding his disappearance, but for the thoughtful and gentle person he was.