Tuesday, April 30, 2019

The Beauty of Chinese Dance, May 26 at Carlow University.



The Pittsburgh chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans will present The Beauty of Chinese Dance on May 26. It will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the Rosemary Heyl Auditorium of Antonian Hall at 3333 Fifth Ave. in Oakland (map). Tickets are available for $10 at the door or at various tiers in advance by contacting marketing at ocapghpa.org.

Japanese rock band Pinky Doodle Poodle Pittsburgh concert rescheduled to May 6.


via @pinkydoodlepoodle

Japanese rock band Pinky Doodle Poodle will play in Pittsburgh on May 6, part of their North American tour underway since May 2018. The Charleston City-Paper summarized them in this way:
One of the coolest things about the Tokyo duo known as Pinky Doodle Poodle, other than the name, of course, is the juxtapositions in their sound. On the band's new single, "Jump In," the kick drum that starts the song off threatens to cave in the listener's chest, and the guitars are set to "massive eardrum hemorrhage," which makes it all the more jarring when singer Yuria's childlike voice comes in and launches into a stream-of-consciousness self-help pep talk, cooing "Don't miss a chance/ Don't miss your voice/ Everywhere, looking for it/ Don't be afraid."

So there's a lot going on here, all at the same time and louder than a bomb. It's similar to the collision of punk and pop that their label-mate Shonen Knife was so good at in the '90s or the lo-fi dance-rock chaos that the Go! Team creates.
They will play at Howler's in Bloomfield (map), a gig that was first scheduled for May 22. Tickets are still not available.

Monday, April 29, 2019

Panel discussion celebrating 100+ years of Asian-American contributions in Pittsburgh, May 8.



The City of Pittsburgh's Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment and Office of Community Affairs will present a panel discussion of local Asian-American Pacific Islander community leaders to celebrate 100+ years of Asian-American contributions in Pittsburgh on May 8.

It will be held at the Squirrel Hill Library (map) from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public, though RSVP to itha.cao@pittsburghpa.gov is requested.

Mega Happy Hour Mixer - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, May 9 at Yuzu Kitchen.

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and numerous regional affinity groups will host the Mega Happy Hour Mixer - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on May 9.
Calling all members and friends. Let’s mix and mingle to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!

The Asian American Leadership Forum invites you to celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month with us. The following groups will be co-hosting the event:
  • World Affair Council of Pittsburgh
  • Pittsburgh China Chamber of Commerce
  • TiE Pittsburgh
  • Executive Women's Council of Greater Pittsburgh
  • The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania
  • Allegheny County Bar Association, Asian Attorney Committee
  • The Western PA Global Business Forum
It will be a great opportunity to connect with members and friends from these organizations.

Delicious Asian Hors d’oeuvres and appetizers. One drink coupon will be provided.
The event runs from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Yuzu Kitchen downtown (map). Tickets are $12.24 for members of the above groups, or $17.55 for general admission.

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Japanese film Shoplifters (万引き家族) at Maridon Museum, May 3.



The 2018 Japanese movie and Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters (万引き家族) will play at the Maridon Museum on May 3.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration in Squirrel Hill, May 11.



The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) will present an Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill on May 11.
Join us to celebrate the launch of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Pittsburgh chapter! We will have free immigration services and free food. Everyone is welcome!

2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Free immigration related legal screening
Free food and soft drinks

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Celebration with performances and speakers
Free food and soft drinks

- Free child care available
- Interpretation services in Mandarin and other languages (We will
be adding to this list!)
- Accessible by bus 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 64, 74

Buddhist Society of Pittsburgh's Vesak 2019, April 28.



The Buddhist Society of Pittsburgh will present its Vesak 2019 on April 28.

Homestay hosts needed for Chinese, Japanese, Korean visitors this year.



GlobalPittsburgh shares news of its needs for host families from May through next January for various cohorts of visitors, including Korean English teachers, Chinese students, and Japanese students from Yasuda University.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Thai coffee shop and bakery, Ka-Fair Coffee & Cakery, coming soon to Morningside.



The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes about a Thai coffee shop, Ka-Fair, set to open soon in Morningside.
In addition to coffee, tea and hot chocolate, they will serve homemade baked goods made by Reanroo such as a crepe cake with raspberry topping, orange cakes, and brownies.

She taught cake decorating in Thailand and plans to offer classes here and host other events.

Reanroo said undertaking this venture is exciting.

“I am all about the details,” she said. “We like challenges. It’s a new chapter in our lives.”
An open house scheduled for April 21 was cancelled, and permission from the county to formally open is still pending. It will be located at 1806 Chislett St. (map).

Zhang Yimou's 2018 film Shadow (影) in Pittsburgh, from May 24.



The 2018 Zhang Yimou film Shadow (影) will play at the Regent Square Theater from May 24 through 30. The distributor provides a summary:
With SHADOW, director Zhang Yimou (HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) once again pushes the boundaries of wuxia action to create a film like no other, masterfully painting a canvas of inky blacks and greys punctuated with bursts of color from the blood of the defeated. In a kingdom ruled by a young and unpredictable king, the military commander has a secret weapon: a “shadow”, a look-alike who can fool both his enemies and the King himself. Now he must use this weapon in an intricate plan that will lead his people to victory in a war that the King does not want.
The movie opens nationwide on May 3, so there may be earlier screenings around the city. Tickets and showtime information are not yet available. The theater is located at 1035 S. Braddock Ave. in Regent Square (map).

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Tuvan throat singers Chirgilchin in Pittsburgh, May 1.



Tuvan throat singing group Chirgilchin will perform in Pittsburgh on May 1.
The word Chirgilchin has two translations: "dance of the air in the heat of the day" and "miracle". Established in 1996, Chirgilchin is a group of throat singers from Tuva, a small Russian province north of Western Mongolia. Chirgilchin's music tells stories of their homeland, its horses and its people. Tuvan songs are sung in minor pentatonic scale, similar to American blues. The monotone sustained notes that branch out into overtones with slight shifts in pitch give Tuvan throat singing its characteristic buoyant yet meditative drone quality. Throat singing is an extraordinary vocal form in which one singer produces two or more voices simultaneously, the low sounds in the throat harmonizing with middle and high flute-like overtones, to create richly layered melodies that evoke images of Tuvan steppes and nomadic life. Atmospheric and mesmeric, throat singing is almost too difficult to describe in words and must be heard to be believed. The most advanced forms of throat singing come from Tuva, and the members of Chirgilchin are among the best and most accomplished throat singers in all of Tuva.
The performance starts at 7:30 pm at the First Unitarian Church in Shadyside (map). Tickets are available online.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck coming to Ross Park Mall, May 4.


via @HellyKittyCafeTruck

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Pittsburgh on May 4, parking outside the Cheesecake Factory at Ross Park Mall.
Hello Pittsburgh! The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to Ross Park Mall on Saturday 5/4! Come say hello to us near Cheesecake Factory between 10am-8pm and pick up some supercute treats & merch, while supplies last! See you there!
The "menus" include a variety of sweets and merchandise.

Japanese film The Third Murder (三度目の殺人) at Maridon Museum, April 25.



The 2017 Japanese film The Third Murder (三度目の殺人) will play at the Maridon Museum on April 25. A 2018 New York Times review writes:
Did he or didn’t he is the question that’s teased throughout the insistent, gripping “Third Murder.” That’s the case even if everyone seems to agree that the defendant is guilty: the defendant himself (he’s confessed), the police, the prosecutor and the defense lawyer who at first only seems to care about the case not his client. Even the filmmaker seems to have boxed the defendant in: The movie opens with the defendant bashing in the victim’s head and then burning the corpse. A trial seems almost beside the point, a view that the writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda goes on to dismantle with lapidary precision.
The movie starts at 6:00 pm and reservations are required to be made by phone: 724-282-0123. The Maridon Museum is an Asian art museum at 322 N. McKean St. in downtown Butler (map) that runs film series periodically throughout the year, in addition to art classes, book club meetings, and its regular exhibits.

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Signage up for new Chinese noodle place in Squirrel Hill.



We first read about a new noodle place coming to Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill in April 2017, but there was no progress until signage went up on Saturday for Mr. Egg's Kitchen. It will be located at 2103 Murray Ave. (map), what was most recently Sree's Foods

Friday, April 19, 2019

Two of the country's first three petroleum engineering graduates were Chinese, and were the first Chinese students to graduate from Pitt.



In January 1915, the Pitt Weekly noted that the first graduating class of its Petroleum Engineering degree would contain two American and two Chinese students (though that year's commencement program shows only one of the Americans earned his degree).
PITT CHINESE TO BE PETROLEUM KINGS

Melican Chinese laundries and Chinese chop suey restaurants are common objects in our city life, and on most any corner we see the familiar sign 'Wa Lee Yee, Laundry" but did you ever stop to think that we will be soon buying our oil and gasoline from real Chinese pretroleum [sic] engineers?

Pitt has taken the lead in producing Chinese Knights of the oil can, and will, unless the unexpected happens, graduate two sons of the oriental country with the degree of petroleum engineer in June. This will be the first time for any university in the United States to offer the degree, so the men taking it will have a notable distinction.

"Japanese Action Comic Punk band" Peelander-Z at Hard Rock Cafe, April 25.



Japanese punk band Peelander-Z will play in Pittsburgh on April 25. Wikipedia provides an overview of their live shows:
They perform on stage and appear in color-coordinated costumes, which they state are not costumes, but their skin. The costumes range from sentai style suits, to kimono, to rubber Playmobil style wigs. There is also a tiger costume and a giant squid/guitar costume to coincide with the song "Mad Tiger". Another aspect of their routine is their on-stage antics such as human bowling (diving head-first into bowling pins), pretending to hit each other with chairs in imitation of pro-wrestlers, and mid-performance piggyback rides. They often allow audience members on stage to join in on the fun, and often dive into the audience or hang from a balcony as part of their act.
They return to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2015, following a brief hiatus. The show is at the Hard Rock Cafe in Station Square (map) and tickets are available online; those under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

2018 Chinese film Ash is the Purest White (江湖儿女) continues in Pittsburgh through April 25.



The 2018 Chinese film Ash is the Purest White (江湖儿女), which opened in Pittsburgh on April 12, will continue in town through April 25. A synopsis, from the distributor:
Qiao is in love with Bin, a local mobster. During a fight between rival gangs, she fires a gun to protect him. Qiao gets five years in prison for this act of loyalty. Upon her release, she goes looking for Bin to pick up where they left off.
The movie plays at the Regent Square Theater on S. Braddock Ave. in Regent Square (map) and tickets are now available for purchase online.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Master Z: IP Man Legacy (葉問外傳:張天志) at Harris Theater, from April 19.



The 2018 Chinese martial arts film Master Z: IP Man Legacy (葉問外傳:張天志), which has been playing in Pittsburgh since its nationwide release of April 12, will play at the Harris Theater downtown from April 19 through 25. The distributor provides a summary:
Legendary action director Yuen Wo Ping draws on a stellar cast (Michelle Yeoh, Dave Bautista, Tony Jaa, and Max Zhang) to create a hard-hitting martial arts blast worthy of its place in the celebrated IP MAN universe. Following his defeat by Master Ip, Cheung Tin Chi (Zhang), tries to make a life with his young son in Hong Kong, waiting tables at a bar that caters to expats. But it’s not long before the mix of foreigners, money, and triad leaders draw him once again to the fight.
The movie will play in Mandarin with English subtitles. Tickets are now available to be purchased online. The Harris Theater is located at 809 Liberty Ave. in the Cultural District (map).

Great DEALL (Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures) Conference celebrating undergraduate research, April 18 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will hold its first Great DEAL Conference on April 18.
The faculty of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host a celebration of the best and brightest of our students. All of our graduating seniors will be presenting a summary of their research projects. Prizes will be awarded. Refreshments will be offered during this day-long event of presentations and poster presentations. Learn about East Asia through the experience of hard-working undergrads. You'll be amazed.
The event runs from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in 2500 Posvar Hall (map).

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Pitt hiring East Asian Library Student Assistant for summer position (Chinese proficiency required).



The University of Pittsburgh's East Asian Library is hiring a student assistant for a 20-hour-per-week position this summer.
The East Asian Library is looking for a reliable, detail-oriented student to work 20 hours per week. The student assistant will help to carry on a Chinese studies related project. Primary responsibilities include data extracting, input, sorting and testing.

This position requires Chinese Language skills.

Applicants must submit a CV.

This position is for summer 2019 only.
The job pays $8.15 an hour. Those interested should apply online (mypitt.edu login required).

2018 Japanese animated film Okko's Inn (若おかみは小学生) in Pittsburgh, April 22 and 23.



The 2018 Japanese animated film Okko's Inn (若おかみは小学生) will play in the Pittsburgh area on April 22 and 23. The distributor provides a summary:
After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn built on top of an ancient spring said to have healing waters. While she goes about her chores and prepares to become the inn’s next caretaker, Okko discovers there are spirits who live there that only she can see – not scary ones, but welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games and help her navigate her new environment. The inn’s motto is that it welcomes all and will reject none, and this is soon put to the test as a string of new guests challenge Okko’s ability to be a gracious host. But ultimately Okko discovers that dedicating herself to others becomes the key to taking care of herself.

The latest feature from famed anime studio Madhouse and director Kitaro Kosaka, who was a key animator on numerous classic films at the venerable Studio Ghibli, seamlessly blends immersive, idyllic landscapes with the storybook charm of Okko’s beloved ghosts. Okko’s Inn delivers a rare ghost story that –despite several floating characters – is firmly grounded in the trials and joys of humanity.
It will play locally at the Cinemark theaters in North Hills and Robinson. The April 22 screenings are dubbed in English while the April 23 screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles. Tickets are now available online.

Monday, April 15, 2019

Chinese calligraphy workshop downtown, May 25.


"Chinese calligrapher," by David Boté Estrada (Creative Commons).

The downtown branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host a Chinese calligraphy workshop on May 25.
A Chinese calligraphy expert will show us pictures of her home in China, give background on the art of calligraphy, and lead a Chinese calligraphy workshop for all ages! No registration is necessary for these sessions. Seating for all workshops is available to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll want to come early to be sure you MAKE it on time.
The event runs from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. The Downtown & Business branch is located at 612 Smithfield St. (map).

Friday, April 12, 2019

Art in the US-Japan Relationship: Preserving the Floating World, April 18 at Carnegie Museum of Art.



The Japan America Society of Pennsylvania will present Art in the US-Japan Relationship: Preserving the Floating World on Thursday, April 18.
Please join us for a special presentation of Japanese art as part of the Richard J. Wood Art Curators Series. The series brings attention to major collections of Japanese art in the U.S. and their role in the U.S.-Japan grassroots relationship.

Beyond his fame as Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Tales of the South Pacific and Hawaii, James A. Michener is well remembered as an enthusiastic collector of fine art. He managed to assemble the third largest collection of ukiyo-e in the United States, which he then gifted to the Honolulu Museum of Art. His donation now comprises approximately half of the museum's collection of more than 10,000 Japanese ukiyo-e. Join us at the Carnegie Museum of Art to learn about Michener's collecting journey with Stephen Salel, Robert F. Lange Foundation Curator of Japanese Art at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
The event starts at 6:00 pm and registration is required. The museum is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map), accessible by buses 28X, 58, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71B, 71D, 75, and P3.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Run River North at Club Cafe, May 15.



Indie folk-rock band Run River North will play Club Cafe on May 15. A 2016 NBC profile described the band as
a group formed back in 2011 as a "conversation for immigrant family kids to talk about, or just to have some kind of space" to share their family histories, according to lead singer Alex Hwang.
And Club Cafe's profile says, in part:
Not just an Asian-American band or a group that relies on a set sonic formula, the EP continues to expand upon the band's prior folk-leaning backbone. On lead single "Hands Up," the band is at their most bombastic. The result of a co-writing collaboration with Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi of Grouplove, the duo's first of such sessions "Hands Up" pairs an earworm-y chorus with a front-and-center guitar melody, a second voice among Hwang's lead bellow. Overall, the group utilizes more drum programming, dreamy synth, and dynamic production -- a more expansive sonic palette.
Tickets for the 8:00 pm show are available online. Club Cafe is located at 56 S. 12th St. in the South Side (map).

Chinese restaurant replaces Hanami in Oakland.



A new Chinese restaurant has replaced Hanami on Fifth Ave. in Oakland. Signage indicates the unnamed restaurant is in a soft opening phase at 3608 Fifth Ave. (map).

Hanami opened in November 2018 as a rebranded version of Thai Hana, a restaurant that was among the worst in terms of health department violations in the county. During Hanami's initial inspection it received 10 violations; the restaurant closed several weeks ago.

"Storytime: Japanese and English" returns to East Liberty, April 16.


via archdaily.org

The next installment of the monthly program "Storytime: Japanese and English" will take place on April 16 at the Carnegie Library in East Liberty.
Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in both English and Japanese for children and their parents or caregivers. For children age birth – 5 and their caregivers.
It runs from 11:00 to 11:30 am. The library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Diners 2+1―serving sushi, sashimi, rolls, and bowls―replaces 15 Fahrenheit in Squirrel Hill.



After closing for the winter, 15 Fahrenheit rolled ice cream has closed for good in Squirrel Hill, replaced by a sushi and fast-casual place called Diners 2+1. The menu includes sushi, rolls, and various bowls. The restaurant is located at 1722 Murray Ave. (map) and was cleared to open by the county health department on March 28.

Pittsburgh Public Schools hiring part-time Mandarin teacher for 2019-2020 school year.

Pittsburgh Public Schools has an anticipated vacancy for a part-time Mandarin Chinese teacher for 2019-2020. A bachelor's degree and PA state teaching certification are required.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

No Korean Food Bazaar for 2019; aims for 2020 return.



The annual Korean Food Bazaar (선교바자회) in Shadyside is taking 2019 off. A tradition of the Korean Central Church of Pittsburgh for 23 years, the church confirmed on Sunday it will not organize the festival this year, but will aim for a 2020 return. The bazaar has typically run on the first Saturday of May.

Matsuri 2019 at Carnegie Mellon University, April 23.



The Japanese Student Association at Carnegie Mellon University will present its annual Matsuri on Tuesday, April 23.
Matsuri is the biggest event hosted by JSA. Last year, more than 600 people showed up to the celebration.
Enjoy a variety of foods from our food booths, such as Yakisoba 🥢, Takoyaki 🐙, Dorayaki 😋, and Onigiri 🍙. You can also enjoy the various performances by student groups🎤 and Taiko Pittsburgh🥁, while immersed in traditional Japanese decorations! Don't forget to also enjoy the multitude of games, such as the shooting arcade🔫, super-ball fishing🎣, water balloon fishing🎈, and a raffle with great prizes🏆! We will also have several booths run by other on-campus organizations so come check them out!
Visit the Facebook page for ticket information and more details. Matsuri runs from 3:00 to 8:00 pm in the Rangos Ballroom of the Cohon University Center (map).

Master Z: IP Man Legacy (葉問外傳:張天志) in Pittsburgh, from April 12.



The 2018 Chinese martial arts film Master Z: IP Man Legacy (葉問外傳:張天志), which last month was announced for a downtown theater from April 19, will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront from April 12, the date of its nationwide release. The distributor provides a summary:
Legendary action director Yuen Wo Ping draws on a stellar cast (Michelle Yeoh, Dave Bautista, Tony Jaa, and Max Zhang) to create a hard-hitting martial arts blast worthy of its place in the celebrated IP MAN universe. Following his defeat by Master Ip, Cheung Tin Chi (Zhang), tries to make a life with his young son in Hong Kong, waiting tables at a bar that caters to expats. But it’s not long before the mix of foreigners, money, and triad leaders draw him once again to the fight.
The movie will play in Mandarin with English subtitles. Tickets are available online. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

Monday, April 8, 2019

The Magic Noodle coming soon to Squirrel Hill.



Hand-drawn signage recently went up at 5829 Forbes Ave. (map) for The Magic Noodle. The spot was most recently home to Sun Penang.



It is not yet clear what relationship the new restaurant will have to Sun Penang ownership. The Malaysian-Chinese restaurant had its share of legal and food safety problems over the years---including rats nests, operating an illegal delivery service, and not paying employees---before ultimately being shut down by the county health department

2018 Japanese animated film Penguin Highway (ペンギン・ハイウェイ) in Pittsburgh, April 14.



The 2018 Japanese animated film Penguin Highway (ペンギン・ハイウェイ) will play at Southside Works Cinema on April 14, one week earlier than previously announced. The distributor summarizes:
Budding genius Aoyama is only in the 4th grade, but already lives his life like a scientist. When penguins start appearing in his sleepy suburb hundreds of miles from the sea, Aoyama vows to solve the mystery. When he finds the source of the penguins is a woman from his dentist’s office, they team up for an unforgettable summer adventure!
Tickets for the 7:00 pm show are available online. Southside Works Cinema is located at 425 Cinema Drive in the Southside, one block from the Hot Metal Bridge (map).

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Tickets now available for Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (コードギアス 復活のルルーシュ) in Pittsburgh, May 5, 7, and 8.



The 2019 Japanese animated film Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (コードギアス 復活のルルーシュ) will play in Pittsburgh on May 5, 7, and 8, and tickets for it went on sale today. The distributor provides a synopsis:
He gave up his life to save the world and protect the ones he loved. The day Lelouch vi Brittannia fell was the day this war-torn world found peace. Now, as his friends work to keep the peace, a terrorist attack could risk everything. Can the brilliant tactician outwit death and save them all? Or will Lelouch’s legacy fall here?
The movie will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Monroeville, and tickets are available online. The May 5 show is in Japanese with English subtitles, while the May 7 and 8 shows are dubbed in English.

2018 Chinese film Ash is the Purest White (江湖儿女) in Pittsburgh, from April 12.



The 2018 Chinese film Ash is the Purest White (江湖儿女) will play in Pittsburgh from April 12. A synopsis, from the distributor:
Qiao is in love with Bin, a local mobster. During a fight between rival gangs, she fires a gun to protect him. Qiao gets five years in prison for this act of loyalty. Upon her release, she goes looking for Bin to pick up where they left off.
It will run from April 12 through 18 at the Regent Square Theater, though showtimes have not yet been announced. Tickets are available for purchase in person at the theater.

"An Evening of Balinese Shadow Puppet Theater: Tales from the Ramayana," April 13 at Pitt.


via volunteerbali.org

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Music will present "An Evening of Balinese Shadow Puppet Theater: Tales from the Ramayana" on April 13.
An Evening of Balinese Shadow Puppet Theater: Tales from the Ramayana features a pre-performance lecture by Dr. Meghan Hynson, puppetry by Ida Bagus Anom Suryawan assisted by Ida Ayu Kumalayoni, and Gender Wayang Music performed by Meghan Hynson, Yang Shuo, Wangcaixuan Zhang, and Annie Valdes.
The event starts at 8:00 pm in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium (map) and tickets are available for purchase online.

A Night of Gamelan, April 12 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Gamelan Ensemble will hold its annual A Night of Gamelan on April 12.
The University Gamelan Ensemble (Mus 0690) plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people, an ethnic group that inhabits roughly the western third of the island of Java. Gamelan refers to a set of predominantly percussion instruments including tuned gongs, metal-keyed instruments, and drums (as well as bowed lute and voice). Gamelan music is played as accompaniment to dance, drama, puppet theater, and martial arts, as well as for concerts of listening music. Gamelan is performed in conjunction with special occasions and to mark important life-cycle event.
The performance starts at 8:00 pm in Bellefield Hall Auditorium (map) and tickets are available online.

Friday, April 5, 2019

"Asia Pop" one-credit mini course at Pitt, Fall 2019.



The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will offer a 1-credit mini course titled "Asia Pop" in Fall 2019.
This mini 1 credit pop-up course explores the spread of Asian popular music across the world in conjunction with the Asian Studies Center lecture series on Asian pop culture. This year's theme is East Asian pop: J-pop (Japan), K-pop (Korea), and Canto/Mando Pop (Hong Kong and China). In this course, students will track the lecture series and discuss issues that include the global legacy of East Asian pop, the role of media and technology, popular music as an instrument of soft power, participatory fandom and international business. This course may also include some experiential learning opportunities such as a dance workshop and field trip. Students will be required to write a reflection paper at the end of the term.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Japanese garage rock band Guitar Wolf in Pittsburgh, May 22.



Japanese garage rock band Guitar Wolf will play in Pittsburgh on May 22. The show starts at 7:00 pm at Crafthouse Stage & Grill in the South Hills (map). Tickets are available online.

Balinese Offerings Workshop, April 7 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Department of Music will present a Balinese Offerings Workshop on Sunday, April 7.
Learn how to make beautiful palm and floral offerings in the traditional Balinese style with expert artisan Ida Ayu Kumalayoni.
A brief lecture on offerings in Bali will be followed by a hands-on workshop.

Event is free and open to the public!
It will run from 2:00 to 3:30 pm in 837 William Pitt Union (map).

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Erie Asian Festival 2019, May 4.



The Erie Asian Pacific American Association is presenting its annual Asian Festival on May 4.

2019 Hong Kong film P Storm (P風暴) in Pittsburgh, from April 5.



The 2019 Hong Kong flim P Storm (P風暴) will play in Pittsburgh from April 5. The Singaporean distributor provides a synopsis of this forth film in the "Storm" series:
Liu Yue Ping (Chrissie Chau) reports to the ICAC about a rich 2G Cao Yuen Yuen (Raymond Lam) who bribed officers of the Hong Kong Correctional Services (HKCS) from inside the prison. William Luk (Louis Koo) decides to infiltrate the prison as an inmate to conduct his investigation, while his partner Ching Tak Ming (Kevin Cheng) and Chief Inspector Lau Po Keung (Julian Cheung) back him up from the outside. Danger springs from all directions inside the prison. A fellow inmate, ex-Superintendent of Police Wong Man Ban is anxious to even the score with William Luk for putting him behind bars 5 years ago. The Superintendent of the prison, Sham Kwok Keung (Patrick Tam) is on the take from Cao Yuen Yuen and turns a blind eye to the constant gang fights, one of which landed William Luk in a custodian ward. With the help of a slick cell mate Wong Lam Luk (Louis Cheung), William Luk is determined to complete his mission…
The movie is playing at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

K-pop Dance Class at Yanlai Dance Academy this summer.



Lucy Chen will once again offer K-Pop Dance Classes at Yanlai Dance Academy this summer.
K-pop has been sweeping through the popular mainstream culture. Come learn the choruses to your favorite songs at this dance class! For all levels! Taught by Lucy Chen.

Feel free to request songs that you want to learn the dances to by commenting below or emailing lulujchen@gmail.com. We cannot guarantee your song will be taught but a schedule will be posted later with more details!
The classes will run Saturdays from May 11 through July 13 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Yanlai Dance Academy is located at 2260 Babcock Blvd. in the North Hills (map).

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

"Learn to Play the Pipa (Chinese Lute) – 3 Class Series for Children," at Carnegie Library in May.



The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's main branch in Oakland will host pipa soloist Yang Jin for a series of free pipa lessons in May.
Renowned pipa performer Yang Jin will teach a series of 3 free pipa (Chinese lute) classes for children beginning May 2. Pipa instruments will be provided during class.

The classes, held Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM, take place:

May 2 Children Lesson 1

May 9 Children Lesson 2

May 16 Children Lesson 3

Pittsburgh Sakura Project 10th anniversary hanami, April 7 at North Park.



The Pittsburgh Sakura Project is celebrating its 10th anniversary this spring at its annual cherry blossom festival in North Park.
Pittsburgh Sakura Project will celebrate 10 years of planting cherry trees on Sunday April 7, 2019 from 1 to 3 PM at the Rose Barn. RSVP is requested to sakurapghboard@gmail.com.

When: Sunday April 7, 2019 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Where: Rose Barn, North Park, Pearce Mill Rd at Tennis Ct Rd, Allison Park, PA 15101
Fee: free
Events: 10th anniversary tree planting, snacks & drinks, traditional Japanese music performance, door prize.
RSVP is requested to sakurapghboard at gmail.com.

"Whose Narrative? Re-Examining War Memorials In East Asia And The U.S," April 4 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Center for International Studies will host "Whose Narrative? Re-Examining War Memorials In East Asia And The U.S" on April 4.

Chinese documentary Four Springs (四个春天) and Q&A with filmmaker, April 6 at Carnegie Mellon University.



The 2017 Chinese documentary Four Springs (四个春天) will play at Carnegie Mellon University on April 6, part of the CMU International Film Festival.
After the popularity of his online diary, “My Father,” filmmaker Lu Qingyi decided to turn a camera on his parents’ everyday life in the remote town in Guizhou. Over four springs, we see the flow of life: chores, singing, hikes, celebrations, funerals, reunions, and separation. After a family tragedy forces Qingyi from the role of participant to observer, he becomes more deeply moved by the open-minded, pristine life philosophy his parents reveal through their everyday interactions with people and nature. Through the tool of cinema, Lu crafts a profound visual diary of family in southwest China that will have the viewer calling their family to say “I love you” as soon as the screen goes dark.
The movie plays at 7:30 pm in the McConomy Auditorium and is accompanied by a Q&A session with the filmmaker. Tickets are available online.

Monday, April 1, 2019

2005 Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城) in Pittsburgh, April 7, 8, and 10.



The 2005 Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城) will play in Pittsburgh on April 7, 8, and 10 as part of this year's GKIDS Ghibli Fest 2019.
Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a curse on Sophie and turns her into a 90-year-old woman. On a quest to break the spell, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent moving castle and into a new life of wonder and adventure. But as the true power of Howl’s wizardry is revealed, Sophie finds herself fighting to protect them both from a dangerous war of sorcery that threatens their world.
It will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and the North Hills. The April 7 and 10 shows are dubbed in English, while the April 8 show is in Japanese with English subtitles. Tickets are available online.

Japanese film The Third Murder (三度目の殺人) at Carnegie Library in Oakland, April 7.



The 2017 Japanese film The Third Murder (三度目の殺人) will be this month's installment of International Cinema Sunday at the Carnegie Library in Oakland on April 7.
Leading attorney Shigemori takes on the defense of murder-robbery suspect Misumi, who served jail time for another murder 30 years ago. Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, 124 minutes, rated R
The movie runs from 2:30 to 4:30 pm in Classroom A and is free and open to the public. The library is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map) and is accessible by buses 28X, 54, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, and 93.

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