Kyo Matcha and Meetcha soft opening in Squirrel Hill today, holding Grand Opening on July 27 and 28.

Dessert spots Kyo Matcha and Meetcha are holding a soft opening in Squirrel Hill today followed by a Grand Opening this weekend. They'll be located at 5864 Forbes Ave. (map) in the former Footers Cleaners spot where signage first went up in October. Kyo Matcha, according to its official site,

is an international chain of Matcha desserts dedicated to creating top-quality raw materials. Due to the influence of the Japanese-style matcha culture, the Kyoto Matcha is based on the brand mission of “Let the Tea Return to the Forest”, rooted in the traditional Japanese tea culture and dedicated to the promotion of Matcha culture.

Meetcha is a bubble tea place. This is the latest in a recent batch of Asian dessert openings in Squirrel Hill, following Meccha Matcha, Mango Mango, and Tiger Sugar.

Concert film Blackpink World Tour (Born Pink) in Cinemas in Pittsburgh, from July 31.

The new Blackpink concert film Black Pink World Tour (Born Pink) in Theaters will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from July 31.

BLACKPINK’s BORN PINK tour that captivated the world comes to the big screen, celebrating the group’s 8th anniversary since their debut! Drawing an audience of 1.8 million and breaking global records for female group concert tours, experience the energy of the live performances in cinemas worldwide! Featuring the iconic ‘Hanok’ set that has mesmerized fans and press worldwide, the film shows unprecedented production scale, presenting exclusively arranged versions of BLACKPINK’s hit songs unique to this concert and encompassing performances from Seoul’s Gocheok Dome alongside footage from further cities across the global tour. Join us for all the exhilarating moments, premiering in over 110 countries, marking a first for a K-POP female group.

It will play locally in the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemarks in Monroeville, McCandless, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

University of Pittsburgh's Japanese Nationality Room turns 25 today.

The Japanese Nationality Room in the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning was dedicated on July 25, 1999. Located in room 317 on the Cathedral's third floor, the room is modeled after a traditional 18th-century minka. Wikipedia provides a good overview of the room's interior---which was largely built in Japan, disassembled, and rebuilt in Pittsburgh---while the 24-page program from the dedication ceremony, scanned and preserved by the university's Documenting Pitt archive, covers the ceremony as well as information on the budget, donors, and other contributors. At the time, it says, the total expenditure was $507,047.64, roughly 80% being building and building-related expenses.

Concert film Seventeen Tour "Follow" Again to Cinemas in Pittsburgh, from August 21.

The Korean concert film Seventeen Tour "Follow" Again to Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh from August 21.

“It feels like we’ve been working hard for this day.” Rewriting history every step of their way, SEVENTEEN’s first Seoul World Cup Stadium concert and encore tour [SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN TO SEOUL] is coming to big screens worldwide this August! From the eagerly awaited full thirteen-member performances to the premiere of “MAESTRO” and unique unit performances of “Spell”, “LALALI”, “Cheers to youth”, the film captures these unforgettable moments with cinematic cameras from multiple angles, ensuring an immersive experience. This concert film begins with a powerful daylight performance that transitions into an event brimming with a diverse array of music. Culminating under a night sky illuminated by CARAT light sticks, it captures the essence of SEVENTEEN’s record-breaking nine-year legacy.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Mongolian folk metal band The Hu returns to Pittsburgh, November 8, opening for Iron Maiden.

Mongolian folk metal band The Hu will return to Pittsburgh on November 8. The Hu opens for Iron Maiden, and tickets for the 7:30 pm show at PPG Paints Arena (map) are available online. A self-description, from their official site:

In 2019, an NPR story put a spotlight on “a band from Mongolia that blends the screaming guitars of heavy metal and traditional Mongolian guttural singing,” accurately highlighting the cultural importance and unique musical identity of THE HU. Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, THE HU, Gala, Jaya, Temka, and Enkush, are a modern rock group rooted in the tradition of their homeland. The band’s two most popular videos, “Yuve Yuve” and “Wolf Totem,” were produced by the band’s producer Dashka. The band’s name translates to the Mongolian root word for human being, and their unique approach blends instruments like the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumur Khuur (jaw harp) and throat singing withcontemporary sounds, creating a unique sonic profile that they call “Hunnu Rock.”

The Hu were last in Pittsburgh in September 2021.

Interactive "Summer in Japan, with Guest Speakers from the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania" informational event for kids and families, July 23 at Monroeville Public Library.

The Monroeville Public Library will host "Summer in Japan" on July 23.

Join us for an evening where Setsuko Hayes, the Operation Manager of the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania, will share information and hands-on activities about Kimonos, Yukata, and Happi and other experiences during the summer months in Japan! Children will have the opportunity to take turns to be dressed, and will be allowed to take photographs! Registration Required.

The event runs from 5:30 to 6:30, and registration can be completed online. The library is located at 4000 Gateway Campus in Monroeville (map).

Hana Vu with special guest Babebee in Pittsburgh, July 27.

Singer-songwriters Hana Vu and Babebee will perform in Pittsburgh on July 27. Doors open for the 21+ show at Club Cafe in the South Side (map) at 7:00 pm, show starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available online.

Japanese films Paprika (パプリカ), Dreams (夢) at Row House Lawrenceville from August 9.

Two Japanese films, 2006's Paprika (パプリカ) and the 1990 Akira Kurosawa movie Dreams (夢), will help comprise the Row House Dream Journal film series from August 9. The animated film Paprika runs from August 9 through 15:

Satoshi Kon’s anime thriller stars a young dream detective named Paprika, who must stop terrorists from using a stolen machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams. The reality and dreams blur, and chaos breaks out in a not-so-far-off future.

Dreams plays the 10th and the 12th through the 15th:

Enter the dreams of Japan’s greatest directors in this deeply personal work. He explores the cost of war, the perils of nuclear power, and humankind’s need to harmonize with nature over the course of eight episodes rich in imagery and insight.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Work progresses on KYURAMEN, TBaar, both coming soon to Pittsburgh.

Work is progressing on national ramen chain KYURAMEN and national bubble tea chain TBaar, both coming soon to East Liberty. KYURAMEN was announced last July for Eastside Bond in East Liberty. TBaar was not announced, though signage went up recently in the spot next door and on the signposts. In response to an inquiry, KYURAMEN ownership indicated a potential September opening.


The Eastside Bond building welcomed Tous Les Jour, the international Korean bakery, in March, the first of the huge Korean chains to open in Pittsburgh.

Kpop group Loossemble (루셈블) in Pittsburgh, October 14.

The Korean girl group Loossemble will perform in Pittsburgh on October 14, part of a nine-city US tour this fall. Tickets for the show at Roxian Theatre go on sale July 18 at 12:00 pm. The five-member group debuted in September 2023 but missed Pittsburgh on their inaugural eight-city tour last year.