The parents of a 20-year-old American college student have issued a heartbreaking plea to help search for their son after he went missing during a family trip to Japan.

James “Weston” Higginbotham was seen in the Kyoto area on Friday, May 29, as his parents, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham, traveled from Alabama to Japan.

The couple issued a video statement on Wednesday, June 3, urging the public to continue to spread information about their missing son. Nancy thanked the public for the love and support.

Keith said that the public’s comments and shares on social media are is leading them “closer and closer” to finding Weston. “We couldn’t do it without everyone’s support.”

Nancy echoed his sentiments that the social media posts have been “instrumental.”

“Every time that you guys repost on social media, it’s an opportunity for somebody in Japan to see it. That is our ultimate goal, is for people in Japan to see Weston’s face so they could report back to us,” she said.

Nancy also shared insight into what a “great kid” her son is: “He has a heart of gold, and we all want him to come back safely.”

Keith added that they are “confident” they’ll find their son. “We’re gonna find him because of everyone’s help in posting and getting the word out, so we can find the person who is gonna find him.”

During the search to find Weston, his family shared several emotional pleas, asking for the authorities and public’s help in finding the missing Auburn University student.

“He is not detained from a [night] out partying,” his mother Nancy Higginbotham said in a Facebook post on Monday, June 1. “The police have confirmed this. Please, I beg you, be kind. I’m already in so much pain.”

Her message also contained photos of her son, who she said was “a very experienced hiker,” who may have wandered off and “intentionally chosen a quiet trail from Yamashina” after he was last being seen exiting a train in that area.

His last phone activity also occurred that evening.

“He may be emotionally distressed, so this is urgent,” wrote Nancy.

Higginbotham added that she and her husband looked for Weston where he was last seen, but were unable to make much progress due to a typhoon that swept through the region.

“My husband and I went last night with flashlights and headlamps and didn’t get too far because we weren’t prepared for the wildlife we encountered,” Nancy wrote on Tuesday. “If anyone wants to join us after the storm, I would be grateful.”

Rep. Mike Shaw, who represents the 47th District in Alabama, confirmed to WVTM that he’d been in touch with the honorary consul general in Japan and the consulate general of Japan located in Atlanta.

“We understand that appropriate resources are engaged and searching for Weston,” Shaw told the outlet in a statement.

“If you know Weston, you know what a great kid he is,” Nancy said in a joint video with her husband on Tuesday, June 2. “He has a heart of gold.”