- James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, went missing on May 29 during a family vacation in the Kyoto area of Japan.
- His parents, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham, are actively involved in the search, describing their situation as "living hell" and suggesting he may have intentionally chosen a quiet hiking trail.
- Police tracked his movements to Yamashina Station, and he was last seen wearing a white "Save the Bees" shirt, lavender corduroy pants, and Adidas shoes, carrying a shoulder bag labeled "Alabama".
- Concerns are heightened by a major storm, Jangmi, heading towards the Kyoto region, while Higginbotham, an environmental engineering student, is known as an experienced hiker and navigator.
- The family has expressed deep gratitude for the widespread support from friends, the government, and strangers, and remains hopeful as search-and-rescue efforts continue.
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