George W. Gish, Jr. is a long-time resident of Japan, having served as a United Methodist missionary for over 50 years in the fields of education, communications, community and church work. His involvement with the Japan Christian art world has extended over 40 years, along with continuing research and teaching in his specialties of ethno-musicology and cultural history which include widely acclaimed efforts to keep alive such endangered music forms as the classical biwa (lute) tradition of Japan. For the past three years, he has served as Vice Moderator of the National Christian Council in Japan.