Six-day search for American student in Japan’s Kyoto continues after argument with mother over ChatGPT use

3 min readDelhiUpdated: Jun 5, 2026 03:02 PM IST

James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, went missing in Kyoto, Japan, during a family vacation, prompting an extensive search by local authorities.(source: X/@ABC)

A nearly week-long search continues in Kyoto, Japan, for 20-year-old American student James “Weston” Higginbotham, who walked away from his family on May 29 after an argument with his mother over her use of ChatGPT. He has not been heard from since. Japanese police, search dogs, helicopters and local volunteers are combing the mountainous Yamashina-ku ward of Kyoto in typhoon conditions, with rescuers searching through waist-high mud on Thursday.

Weston Higginbotham, a junior at Auburn University studying biosystems engineering and a self-described “lover of Mother Nature”, walked off after the family had a heated argument over his mother’s use of ChatGPT to navigate the trip. The family had been in Japan since May 22, celebrating Weston’s 18-year-old younger brother’s high school graduation. His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, has been updating supporters daily on Facebook from Kyoto and has thanked Japanese police, US diplomats, FBI agents, and Alabama officials for their efforts.

The ‘dumb argument’ over ChatGPT

Nancy told CNN: “We had an argument because I was using ChatGPT too much to try to help us navigate the trip and find the best restaurants and do this and that. We try never to use it, and I totally agree with him. It was just a dumb, dumb argument to have.”

Initially, Nancy Higginbotham, his mother, was not worried as her son, who boarded the train alone, was an experienced traveller and often went exploring solo. But when the location on his phone went off, she knew something was not right.

The disappearance of Weston had happened following an argument he had with his mother over her use of ChatGPT.

His mother has since taken to social media to appeal for help. “He may be emotionally distressed, so this is urgent,” she wrote. “We are in our own living hell.”

Dozens of Japanese officials searched through waist-high mud on Thursday. “It’s been a long, stressful day,” Nancy Higginbotham wrote in a social media update. Furthermore, she thanked Japanese police, U.S. diplomats, FBI agents, and Alabama officials for their efforts.

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What Japanese police said

Despite the tension, investigators have offered a preliminary assessment. The Kyoto Prefectural Police told ABC News that it is likely Weston intentionally left his family. However, they are concerned about his safety.

A State Department spokesperson stated it has “no higher priority than the safety of Americans.

(This article was curated by Seekriti Saha, who is an intern with The Indian Express)

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