2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) stays in Pittsburgh area through (at least) October 9.

The 2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編), which opened in Pittsburgh-area theaters on September 11, will stay here through (at least) October 9.

The Demon Slayer Corps plunge into Infinity Castle to defeat Muzan. However, the remaining Hashiras and the Demon Slayers who survived Tanjiro's Final Selection are pitted against the remaining members of the Twelve Kizuki first.

It is scheduled to play locally at many local theaters, including the Waterworks Cinemas, the AMC theaters in Waterfront and South Hills, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and North Hills. Tickets, and a real-time listing of theaters, are available online.

Concert film G-Dragon in Cinema: Übermensch in Pittsburgh, from October 29.

The upcoming G-Drago concert film G-Dragon in Cinema: Übermensch will play in Pittsburgh from October 29.

After eight years, the icon of a generation roars back with an epic world tour – UBERMENSCH. Every beat, every breath, every moment that will redefine his legacy bursts onto the big screen. From the anthems that shook the world – “Crooked”, “POWER,” “HEARTBREAKER” – to an epic setlist spanning his most iconic hits, joined by an all-star guest lineup including TAEYANG, DAESUNG, CL, and more. Feel the raw energy, the fire, the unrepeatable magic – captured live and unleashed through SCREENX, 4DX and IMAX.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in North Hills, and tickets are available online.

"LitFest 2025: Bringing Chinese Literature to America with Editor Han Zhang (Riverhead Books) & Translator Jeremy Tiang," October 19 with City of Asylum.

City of Asylum will present "Bringing Chinese Literature to America with Editor Han Zhang (Riverhead Books) & Translator Jeremy Tiang" on October 19, part of LitFest 2025.

Publishers, book clubs, and bookstores alike are abuzz with rave reviews for one of the season’s hottest books: Yueran Zhang’s Women, Seated. The riveting story shines a spotlight on a powerful Chinese family’s fall from grace, detailing a world of luxury, wealth, and around-the-clock service, with secrets hidden in every shadow. Full of drama and intrigue most American audiences are chomping at the bit for, one could almost forget that this bestseller likely wouldn’t have made it to a front-of-store display without the work of editor Han Zhang and translator Jeremy Tiang. 

Two remastered BTS concert films, from 2019 and 2021, in Pittsburgh-area theaters this week.

Two remastered BTS concert films will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters this week. BTS 2019 WORLD TOUR ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF’ LONDON Remastered plays October 1 and 5:

A breathtaking expression of true love and the meaning of existence beneath a star-filled sky—A breathtaking expression of true love and the meaning of existence beneath a star-filled sky—. A powerful blend of emotion and energy, brought to life through top-notch production and stunning LED visuals. This historic night marked BTS as the first Korean act to headline London’s Wembley Stadium, and their heartfelt voices that once echoed across the globe now come vividly alive on screen.

BTS 2021 MUSTER SOWOOZOO Remastered plays October 2 and 5.

A one-of-a-kind “FESTA” that transcended time and space, uniting BTS and ARMY as one — A spectacular open-air performance that captured the spirit of a true festival. The warmth and joy of their 8th anniversary celebration return to the screen, as vibrant and unforgettable as ever.

The movies are scheduled to play int the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

TWICE documentary ONE IN A MILL10N in Pittsburgh area, from October 20.

The 2025 documentary on Korean group TWICE, ONE IN A MILL10N, plays in the Pittsburgh area from October 20.

In 2015, with the greeting “One in a million, TWICE!”, a new K - pop group stepped on to the world stage. From chart - topping anthems like “CHEER UP,” “TT,” “What is Love?,” "FANCY,” and “Feel Special”, TWICE captured hearts far beyond Korea, becoming a global phenomenon. This documentary follows their decade - long journey — countless hours of dedication, the dazzling spotlight of worldwide tours, and candid reflections on their growth, friendship, and even their dreams for the future. For ten years, brighter than any stage light, ‘ONCE’ has been at the very heart of their story. Through never - before - seen interviews and the heartfelt process of preparing a 10th anniversary celebration, the film reveals what TWICE has truly meant to one another — and to the fans who have walked beside them. On their 10th anniversary, 〈 ONE IN A MILLI0N 〉 comes to the screen, revealing the true reason behind the existence of TWICE — a group like no other.

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

7 more classic Hong Kong films this week, part of series at Harris Theater.

Seven more classic Hong Kong films will play at the Harris Theater at various times this week, part of a Hong Kong Cinema Classics series of films from the 1980s and 1990s.

• A Chinese Ghost Story (倩女幽魂) - September 29 - October 3
• City on Fire (龍虎風雲) - September 29 - October 8
• A Chinese Ghost Story 2 (倩女幽魂 II：人間道) - September 30
• A Better Tomorrow 3: Love & Death in Saigon (英雄本色3-夕陽之歌) - September 30
• A Chinese Ghost Story 3 (倩女幽魂 III：道道道) - October 1
• The Killer (喋血雙雄) - October 3 - October 7
• Hard Boiled (辣手神探) - October 4 - October 8
• Bullet in the Head (喋血街头) - October 5 - October 7

The final movie plays on October 5. Tickets and showtime information is available online. The Harris Theater is located in downtown's Cultural District (map)

Pittsburgh Obama 6-12 hiring a Japanese teacher.

Pittsburgh Obama 6-12, a public middle and high school in East Liberty, is hiring a Japanese teacher. The job ad is not especially descripted for this particular role, but is as follows; those interested in applying should do so via the posting:

The position of teacher is directly supervised by the School Principal and is responsible for effectively educating and supporting students by ensuring they are learning academically, developing strong character, and gaining skills that prepare them for college and career. The teacher is responsible for planning lessons that target specific skills, managing classroom behavior, and engaging students in lessons. The position of teacher cultivates student’s interest in education and incorporates culturally responsive pedagogy into their classroom.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration at Pitt, October 3.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Global Hub will host a Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on October 3 from 12:00 pm.

中秋快乐!
추석 잘 보내세요!
Chúc Mừng Tết Trung thu!
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Come celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival with the Asian Studies Center! Enjoy snacks and crafts during this cultural holiday. Event is open to the Pitt community and the public.

It will be held at the Global Hub, located on the 1st floor of Posvar Hall (map).

Next monthly Chinese & English Storytime for kids at Cooper-Siegel Library in Fox Chapel, October 4.

The monthly Chinese-English Storytime continues at the Cooper-Siegel Library in Fox Chapel will hold its next session on October 4.

Explore the Chinese language through bilingual songs, books, and playful experiences. This program is designed for kids in grades preschool - 2nd grade with their caregivers. This program occurs on the first Saturday of the month. Please register for all dates you plan to attend.

The event runs from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in the Verne C. Koch Program Room. Future sessions are scheduled for November 1, December 6, January 3, and beyond.  (There are also Chinese-English Storytimes scheduled for October 18, November 15, December 20, January 17, and beyond, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, at the Sharpsburg Community Library.) Registration is required and can be completed online for each session. The Cooper-Siegel Community Library is located at 403 Fox Chapel Rd. (map).

1986 Hong Kong film Peking Opera Blues (刀馬旦) in Pittsburgh, September 28 - October 6, part of Hong Kong Cinema Classics series.

The 1986 Hong Kong film Peking Opera Blues (刀馬旦) will play in Pittsburgh from September 28 through Octoer 6, part of a Hong Kong Cinema Classics series at the Harris Theater featuring 11 Hong Kong films from the 1980s and 1990s.

Perhaps no other film better displays the blink-and-you-miss-it inventiveness of Tsui Hark than Peking Opera Blues. It isn’t just one of the greatest Hong Kong action movies of all time, or merely an exquisite combination of political history and gender-defying performance. Tsui’s enthralling balance of tone, editing patterns, and comedic role-playing means the film is all of these things at warp speed, a dazzling expression of genre multiplicity that shifts between modes moment to moment. This flexibility extends to the cast: three women (Brigitte Lin, Sally Yeh, and Cherie Chung), a spy, an actor, and a musician, are assuming roles to survive the violent end of the Qing Dynasty, aligning themselves with warlords, revolutionaries, seducers, and friends. Each identity opens up traps, expectations, and freedoms. Whether on the stage or in a melee, this is a film that plays out under a ruthless and overwhelming urge to execute the perfect stunt—both for laughs and for something deadly serious.

Tickets are available online. Two other Hong Kong films play there this weekend as part of the series: A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) from the 27th, and A Better Tomorrow 2 (英雄本色2) one day only on the 28th. These, and the other films to comprise the Hong Kong Classics series, play at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map).

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck at Ross Park Mall, October 4.

via @HellyKittyCafeTruck

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Ross Park Mall on October 4.

Hello Pittsburgh! The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to Ross Park Mall on Saturday, 10/4! Come say hello to us near The Cheesecake Factory & LL Bean between 10am-7pm and pick up some supercute treats & merch, while supplies last! See you there!

More information about the truck and its tours available via Sanrio. Ross Park Mall is located in Ross Township in the North Hills, just off McKnight Road (map).

Work continues on Paris Baguette in Shadyside.

Work continues on the Paris Baguette cafe and bakery coming to Shadyside. It was first announced for Walnut Street in January 2024, back before the region's first Paris Baguette opened in the Norh Hills. The Shadyside location will be located at 5514 Walnut St., in what was William Sonoma until January 2022. In 2024, the year both locations were set to open in Pittsburgh, the franchisee announced plans to open five Paris Baguette cafes in the area.

Paris Baguette is a chain of bakeries ubiquitous throughout South Korea that has over 250 locations across the United States. The menu boasts a wide variety of cakes, baked goods, sandwiches, juices, and coffees, in addition its eponymous French bread.

Phipps Conservatory Fall Flower Show "Visions of Japan" opens October 4 and runs through October 26.

The Fall Flower Show "Visions of Japan" opens October 4 at Phipps.

Starting Sat., Oct. 4, Phipps’ Fall Flower Show: Visions of Japan celebrates the prominence of the chrysanthemum in Japanese culture through vibrant autumnal displays. Mums in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors will be presented alongside evocative props including jewel-toned fans, a moon gate, a pagoda, foot bridges and a celebratory ryuu, or dragon, whose brightly colored body floats from end to end of the glasshouse’s iconic Sunken Garden. These mums will be grown using traditional Japanese techniques like disbud and cascade.

The narrative will focus on how the human-nature connection is manifested in Japan. Highlights include the joyous festivals (aki matsuri) and parades that celebrate the autumn harvest season, the symbolism of chrysanthemums in Japanese garden culture and more. Broadly, the show presents an opportunity to discuss some of the unique strategies originated in Japan to promote horticulture as therapeutic, including Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing).

2025 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, September 27 at North Park.

The 2025 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival will be held on September 27 at North Park. The event runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on North Park Lake (map), and in addition to the races that support breast cancer survivors, there will be a lion dance, food trucks, vendors, and activitiy tables including the Chinese Heritage Room (from the Pitt Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program), OCA, the Pittsburgh Chinese School, and the Pittsburgh Taoist Tai Chi Society. The eye dotting ceremony begins at 8:20 am with Allen Peng of the Organization of Chinese Americans and first race begins at 9:10 am. The event is free for spectators.

Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program Information Session, October 2 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will hold its annual Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program Information Session on October 2.

Are you interested in living and working abroad?

Have you been studying Japanese and looking to apply your skills after graduation?

Do you want to make an impact on the lives of young people?

Would you like to find out where the ultimate ramen shop is found?

If any of these questions apply to you, then please join the Asian Studies Center and JET Alumni group in Pittsburgh for an information session to learn more about the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. This hybrid Information Session will be in room 4130 Posvar Hall, on the 4th floor of W. Wesley Posvar Hall on October 2, 2025 starting at 6:00pm. Learn about the requirements of the JET Program and learn from your future-JET Program sempai with our JET Alumni Panel.

The hybrid event starts at 6:00 pm and registration is required; the in-person component is held in 4130 Posvar Hall.

Pitt Surplus auctioning Japanese kei van.

The University of Pittsburgh Surplus Property is auctioning a 2000 Mitsubishi Minicab Microvan GD-U62V that had been used by Pitt-Johnstown dining.

Used. Runs but has extensive rust issues.

2025 Chinese film The Botanist (植物学家) at University of Pittsburgh, September 26, part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The 2025 Chinese film The Botanist (植物学家) will play in Pittsburgh on September 26, part of the SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

In a village in a remote valley on the northern border of Xinjiang, China, a lonely Kazakh boy named Arsin (Jahseleh Yesi) nurses fading memories of his family. He finds solace in the company of plants. The arrival of Meiyu (Ren Zihan), a Han Chinese girl, is like the discovery of a plant he has never seen before, bringing him comfort and a strange sense of wonder. Together, they grow like two distinct species, rooted in a shared corner of the world, imagining the valley as an endless ocean. But one day, Arsin learns that Meiyu will be moving to Shanghai, which is 4,792 kilometers away – a distance he struggles to comprehend. She is headed to a city where the ocean actually exists. Arsin is left alone to grapple with the quiet shifts in their small, fragile world.

The show starts at 1:00 pm in G24 Cathedral of Learning. Tickets are available online, and remain free for those with a Pitt ID.

2024 Taiwanese film Daughter's Daughter (女兒的女兒) in Pittsburgh, September 27, part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The 2024 Taiwanese film Daughter's Daughter (女兒的女兒) will play in Pittsburgh on September 27, art of the SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

Jin Aixia (Silvia Chang) has two daughters, but Emma (Karena Lam), who grew up in New York, and Fan Zuer (Eugenie Liu), who grew up in Taipei, never knew about each other until well into adulthood. When Zuer and her partner decide to try and get pregnant via in vitro fertilization, they wind up travelling to the US for treatments. Tragically, the couple die there in an accident, but their embryo remains alive and well — and Aixia is left as its legal guardian. Arriving in New York overwhelmed with grief, she is faced with the choice to donate, terminate, or find a surrogate for the embryo. But after a life spent feeling like she’s fallen short as a mother, who is she to decide what to do with her deceased daughter’s unborn child?

2024 Toronto International Film Festival Platform Award winner, 2024 Golden Horse winner, best original screenplay.

The movie starts at 1:00 pm in 125 Frick Fine Arts in Oakland (map); please note the room change, which is not reflected on the ticketing page. Tickets are available online.

2024 film Winter in Sokcho, September 25 at Harris Theater.

The 2024 film Winter in Sokcho will play in Pittsburgh on September 25, part of the SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

In Sokcho, a small seaside village in South Korea, a young woman, Soo-Ha (Bella Kim), lives in a bit of a rut, rhythmed by visits to her mother, a fishmonger, and her relationship with her boyfriend, Jun-Ho (Gong Doyu). When a French man named Yan Kerrand (Roschdy Zem) arrives in the boarding house where Soo-Ha works, it awakens within her questions about her own identity, and that of her French father, about whom she knows almost nothing. As winter settles over the town, Soo-Ha and Kerrand will observe and gauge each other, trying to communicate any way they can – through cooking for one and drawing for the other – delicately weaving a fragile bond between them.

Tickets are free for those with a Pitt ID card---registration and promo code required---and $11 for everyone else. The movie begins at 6:00 pm at the Harris Theaer in downtown's Cultural District (map).

"Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival" at Carnegie Mellon University, October 1.

The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics’ Chinese Studies program at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh’s Organization of Chinese Americans will present the 2025 Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival on October 1.

Celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and explore culinary traditions from around the world at this vibrant cultural event!

Free and open to the public, attendees will enjoy live performances that showcase music, dance and storytelling from East Asian cultures. Sample delicious global cuisine, connect with the greater-CMU community and take part in a joyful evening of community, culture and conversation. All are welcome — come hungry and curious!

The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Cohon University Center's Rangos Ballroom on the Carnegie Mellon campus in Oakland (map), and is free and open to the public.

Free "We Learn: Basic Japanese Language and Culture," Fridays at downtown Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, from October 3.

"Osaka, Japan" by Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons).

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's downtown branch will host "We Learn: Basic Japanese Language and Culture" on Fridays from October 3 through November 7, after the previous session ended on June 6.

Enjoy learning the basics of the Japanese language and culture from a certified, native Japanese instructor. We will learn greetings, etiquette and manners, survival phrases for traveling to Japan, visiting interesting tourist locations, and ordering food and shopping. We will also learn reading and writing – Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, Emoji, Anime and Manga. Each session is designed to be interactive and fun. The agenda can vary based on the interests of the students.

 

We Learn groups are volunteer-facilitated peer learning groups. We Learn Groups meet in person but use a hybrid model with online learning materials. This Group meets on Fridays: Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7.

Registration is required and can be completed online. The classes run from 11:00 am, and the library is located at 612 Smithfield St. (map).

2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) stays in Pittsburgh area through (at least) October 2.

The 2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編), which opened in Pittsburgh-area theaters on September 11, will stay here through (at least) October 2.

The Demon Slayer Corps plunge into Infinity Castle to defeat Muzan. However, the remaining Hashiras and the Demon Slayers who survived Tanjiro's Final Selection are pitted against the remaining members of the Twelve Kizuki first.

It is scheduled to play locally at many local theaters, including the Waterworks Cinemas, the AMC theaters in Waterfront and South Hills, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and North Hills. Tickets, and a real-time listing of theaters, are available online.

KPOP CLUB NIGHT with DJ Chen returns to Pittsburgh, October 3.

KPOP CLUB NIGHT with DJ Chen will return to Pittsburgh on October 3.

Come and get it! Get ready for Round 2 in PGH at AVALON SOCIAL!! Join mixmaster DJ CHEN and the world-famous Kpop Club Night crew on October 3rd to sing and dance our hearts out!

This is a 21+ event. 
Doors open 10pm, curfew 2:00 am.
Physical government issued ID required. 
No Refunds. Tickets are transferrable.

Tickets are available online for $26.50. Avalon Social is a club located at 1601 E. Carson St. in the South Side (map) in what was most recently Foxtail.

BTS 2017 Live Trilogy EPISODE III THE WINGS TOUR THE FINAL Remastered in Pittsburgh, September 25 and 28.

The concert film BTS 2017 Live Trilogy EPISODE III THE WINGS TOUR THE FINAL Remastered will play in Pittsburgh on September 25 and 26, part of a four-movie series of BTS concerts.

BTS cemented their global status with their first Billboard Music Award win, and their meteoric rise is powerfully captured in . Individual and unit performances reveal a spectrum of charms through velvety vocals and poetic rap, while the electrifying performances of “Blood Sweat & Tears,” “DNA,” and “MIC Drop” showcase the tour’s expanded scale! A pivotal chapter in BTS’s journey unfolds vividly on screen.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Hong Kong film A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) in Pittsburgh, September 27 - October 2; A Better Tomorrow 2 (英雄本色2) here September 28, intersecting SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Fest and Hong Kong Classics series.

The Hong Kong films A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) and A Better Tomorrow 2 (英雄本色2) will play in Pittsburgh this weekend, part of the Hong Kong Cinema Classics series at Harris Theater. 

A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) plays in Pittsburgh September 27 through October 2, with the opening screening coinciding with the SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival, for which Pitt students, faculty, and staff may receive free tickets.

2025 Thai film A Useful Ghost (ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ) in Pittsburgh, September 26, part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The 2025 Thai film A Useful Ghost (ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ) will play in Pittsburgh on September 26, part of the SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

At the beginning of the Cannes Film Festival Critics’ Week winner A Useful Ghost (Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, 2025), we learn that March (Wisarut Himmarat) has lost his beloved wife Nat (Davika Hoorne), whose work in the family factory has left her—and many other workers—poisoned. Their relationship gets a second chance, however, when she comes back to him, reincarnated as a vacuum cleaner. His family is less pleased by her reincarnation and finds their rather unconventional love disturbing. Anxious to be the good daughter-in-law again, Nat decides to become useful by setting herself against the other ghosts who have revenge on their minds. As she becomes involved in banishing other spirits, the question of a ghost’s usefulness clashes with Thailand’s recent authoritarian history. With its tonal shifts and fractious genre changes, A Useful Ghost should not work. But the fact that it does—and does so brilliantly—is a credit to the debut film director’s sense of humor and razor-sharp political vision.  

Toronto International Film Festival 2025, Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize 2025

Content warning: Nudity, Sexual Scenarios, Violence

Tickets are free for those with a Pitt ID card---registration and promo code required---and $11 for everyone else. The movie begins at 7:00 pm at the Harris Theaer in downtown's Cultural District (map).

2025 Japanese film Mixed Modern (The Longing) (ミックスモダン), followed by Director Q & A, September 25, part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The 2025 Japanese film Mixed Modern (The Longing) (ミックスモダン), followed by Director Q & A, will play in Pittsburgh on September 25, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

Hiro yuki (Toshizo Fujiwara) and his wife Sono ko (Rino Tsuneishi) run an okonomiyaki restaurant which employs ex-youth offenders to help support their rehabilitation. Since an incident with a former employee a year ago, Hiro has been hounded by hate speech online. Nevertheless, he sticks to his principles at the restaurant. When he interviews the 18-year-old Yuto (Daiki Ido) in the detention center, the young man tells him: “I want the chance to start over!”, and Hiro hires him. After receiving his first pay packet, Yuto returns to his hometown to buy his father a gift but discovers that he has left town. Yuto’s mother already abandoned him when he was a child and now his father is gone, too. While out at a club, Yuto becomes fascinated with Yukiha (Sasha), a 17-year-old dancer at the club who was also recently released from juvenile detention.

Tickets are free for those with a Pitt ID card---registration and promo code required---and $11 for everyone else. The movie begins at 8:00 pm at the Harris Theaer in downtown's Cultural District (map).

New designs for Sushi Atarashi, Wushiland Boba, set to open in new Shadyside complex in March 2026.

New renderings show the design for a joint Sushi Atarashi, Wushiland Boba space in The Meridian, a residential and retail space under construction in Shadyside. The combined sushi and bubble tea space was announced in Summer 2024, and will join Giant Eagle Market District, Shake Shack, Cava, Barnes & Noble, Sephora, and Meridian Nail Bar, along with 231 apartments at the corner of Shady and Penn Avenues (map).

Free screening of 2024 Japanese horror film Missing Child Videotape (ミッシング・チャイルド・ビデオテープ), September 23, part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

SCREENSHOT: Asia will present a free screening of the 2024 Japanese horror film Missing Child Videotape (ミッシング・チャイルド・ビデオテープ) on September 23, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival around the city of Pittsburgh.

In the feature film debut of director Kondo Ryota, winner of the Grand Prize at the Japan Horror Film Competition, and produced by legendary J-Horror director, Shimizu Takashi, this film’s quiet horror allows viewers to experience slow-burning dread trapped in the coarse image of a VHS tape. One day, Keita (Rairu Sugita) unexpectedly receives an old videotape from his mother. As the tape plays, the grainy images reveal the moment of his brother’s mysterious disappearance years earlier forcing Keita to reckon with a past he has long tried to forget. As unforgettable and ghastly as this revelation might be, Keita decides to confront the incident once more and retrace the past, heading to the ruins of a mountain that should never have existed.

Tickets are free but registration is required. The 7:00 pm screening will be held at Kelly Strayhorn Theater's Alloy Studios in East Liberty (map).

Concert film BTS 2016 Live The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue Remastered in Pittsburgh, September 24 and 28, part of BTS film series.

The concert film BTS 2016 Live The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue Remastered will play in Pittsburgh on September 24 and 28, the first in a series of BTS concert films playing in Pittsburgh-area theater this fall.

The grand finale of “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” series by BTS, where the story of youth shines brightest— it’s . From the lingering tenderness of “Autumn Leaves” and “Butterfly” to the explosive performances of “FIRE,” “Save ME,” and “EPILOGUE: Young Forever,” the story of youth that defined BTS as we know today, is vividly brought to life on screen!

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

4K remaster of 2005 Japanese film Linda Linda Linda (リンダ リンダ リンダ) in Pittsburgh, September 27.

The 2005 Japanese film Linda Linda Linda (リンダ リンダ リンダ) will play in PIttsburgh on September 27, part of the Harris Theater's International Art House Classics series.

A cult favorite and a hidden gem of Japanese cinema, Linda Linda Linda returns in a stunning 4K remaster to celebrate its 20th anniversary!

In a quiet provincial town, a high school festival is just days away when an unexpected setback threatens a student rock band’s performance. The group’s guitarist suffers a finger injury, and tensions within the band lead to their vocalist quitting. Left in disarray, the remaining three members—Kei (Yu Kashii), Kyoko (Aki Maeda), and Nozomi (Shiori Sekine)—find themselves at a crossroads. On a whim, they invite Son (Bae Doona), a Korean exchange student with little musical experience, to take on the role of lead singer. Together, they form a makeshift cover band dedicated to performing Linda Linda by The Blue Hearts. As they rehearse tirelessly in the days leading up to the festival’s grand finale, their journey becomes one of unexpected friendships, quiet perseverance, and the exhilarating spirit of youth. Featuring music by James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins).

Tickets for the 2:00 pm show are available online. The Harris Theater is located at 809 Liberty Ave. in downtown's Cultural District (map).

Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ), Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓), Only Yesterday (おもひでぽろぽろ), and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語) at Row House Cinema for Takahata Week, from September 26.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville will present four Japanese animated films in "a celebration of Isao Takahata – one of Japan’s greatest directors/screenwriters" from September 26 through October 2. Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ), Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓), Only Yesterday (おもひでぽろぽろ), and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語) will comprise this fall's Takahata Week. Special evens for this week consist of "Tissues with Grave of the Fireflies on September 27th and a one-evening-only showing of The Tale of Princess Kaguya on October 2. Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

“Against the Odds: The Professional Struggles of U.S. K–12 Chinese Teachers in a Constrained System," September 24 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host “Against the Odds: The Professional Struggles of U.S. K–12 Chinese Teachers in a Constrained System” on September 24 as its first colloquium of the year.

Dr. [Yi] Xu will share insights from her study of over 200 Chinese language educators across the U.S., exploring the systemic and professional challenges they face and offering recommendations for support.

The talk runs from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in 501 Cathedral of Learning.

Took Took 98 in Squirrel Hill closed by health department after damning inspection.

Took Took 98 in Squirrel Hill has been ordered closed by the Allegheny County Health Department after an inspection that revealed damning, and disgusting, food safety and cleanliness violations. The list of violations include dead rodents in the basement; rodent droppings in rice; the phrase "too many rodent droppings to count" throughout many places and surfaces in the kitchen; cross contamination and improper holding temperatures; and, among others:

During rodent dropping clean-up, employee observed placing finger of gloved hand in mouth. Inspector observed employee cleaning up rodent dropping wearing the same gloves immediately before observing contact with mouth. Inspector ordered employee to change gloves and wash hands. Gloves not changed. Inspector ordered person-in-charge to order employee to remove gloves and wash hands

Umai Thai & Sushi to soft open today in Bellevue.

Umai Thai & Sushi will hold its soft opening today in Bellevue from 4:00 pm. It is located at 172 Lincoln Ave (map), in the spot occupied by Thai Tamarind until it relocated to 513 Lincoln Ave., a few blocks away, and rebranded as Thai Tamarind Noodle & Rice in June. A menu is available online for the restaurant, which draws its name from a Japanese word meaning delicious, and offers a variety of Thai entrees and sushi platters, plus bento boxes, soups, rolls, poke, ramen, and many other Asian dishes.

2024 film Blue Sun Palace (蓝色太阳宫) in Pittsburgh September 21, part of 2025 SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The 2024 film Blue Sun Palace (蓝色太阳宫) will play in Pittsburgh on September 21 as part of the 2025 SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

In Blue Sun Palace’s Chinese-speaking Queens, Cheung is a migrant laborer and Didi works at a massage parlor with other Chinese immigrants. Among them is Amy (Ke-Xi Wu), a gifted cook who dreams of opening her own restaurant. When Didi is tragically killed, Cheung and Amy form an unexpected bond as they navigate their grief and search for connection. Blue Sun Palace offers a quiet, realistic portrayal of immigrant life in New York, where English is rarely spoken and interactions with non-immigrant Americans are largely commodified. While there are daily indignities foisted upon the immigrants, Blue Sun Palace is no misery showcase. Intimacy and warmth co-exist with economic anxieties and deep grief that are articulated with uncommon intelligence and understanding of how adults endure any given day. Director Constance Tsang gives us confident direction in her debut feature, bringing a fresh exploration to how American newcomers might find comfort and solace in one another in an otherwise alienating land.

Content warning: Violence, sexual scenarios

Tickets are free to everyone with a PITT ID, $5 for all other students, and $11 for General Admission. To purchase or reserve tickets, click buy now on the front page next to the film, or click here.

The movie plays in room 343 Alumni Hall on the University of Pittsburgh campus (map) from 1:30 pm and tickets are available online.

Honghong Tinn and "Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry," October 6 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Honghong Tinn and her talk "Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry" on October 6.

In this seminar, Honghong Tinn will introduce her new, open access book Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan’s Computing Industry (MIT Press, 2025). Tinn's book tells the critical history of how hobbyists and enthusiasts in Taiwan, including engineers, technologists, technocrats, computer users, and engineers-turned-entrepreneurs, helped transform the country with their hands-on engagement with computers. It was through their creative and ingenious tinkering with computers that they were able to gain a better understanding of the technology, opening the door to future manufacturing endeavors that now include Acer, Foxconn, Asus, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

The talk runs from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Fujiya Ramen shares designs of new location coming to North Fayette.

On Sunday, Fujiya Ramen shared some renderings of its second location. As reported in July, Fujiya plans to open a new spot at 210 McHolme Dr. (map) in Robinson township, in the storefront most recently occupied by Sushi Atarashi's revolving sushi place last year.

"Shop Like a Chef" workshop / tour at WFH Oriental Market and Lotus Food Company, October 5.

Ki Ki of Sunev Holistics is hosting a free "Shop Like a Chef" workshop on October 5 that tours two large Asian groceries in the Strip District, WFH Oriental Market and Lotus Food Company.

Do you ever feel a little overwhelmed walking into an Asian market? Trust me, I get it! The aisles are full of amazing possibilities, but where do you even start?

That's why I'm hosting a FREE workshop and tour right here in Pittsburgh. Come explore with me as I share my secrets shopping like a private chef. We'll cover everything from picking perfect bok choy to understanding different of soy sauce. This isn't just about buying groceries—it's about building your confidence in the kitchen and bringing new, exciting flavors to your meals and meeting like-minded people.

Date: October 5th

Time: 10 AM to 11:30 AM

Fees: FREE

Location: We will meet at WFH Asian Market, then walk over to Lotus Food Company in The Strip.

Click the link in bio and register via email. Limited space! DM if you have any questions 🫶💫

Those interested should register at info [at] sunevholistics.com. WFH Oriental Market, the 10:00 am meeting point, is located at 2306 Penn Ave. (map).

Pocha by Kye-won named Best Korean restaurant in 2025's Pittsburgh City-Paper reader's poll.

Pocha by Kye-won, located in Saxonburg, was named Best Korean restaurant by the 2025 Pittsburgh City-Paper reader's poll. From the official restaurant of the place that opened in February:

We're so excited to bring a brand-new spot in Sprankles grocery store in Saxonburg to share authentic Korean food paired with amazing Grist House beer. Everything we serve is handmade, and we're the only place offering an authentic Korean BBQ experience, if you don't know what this is, see our Korean BBQ section! Whether you're a vegetarian or meat lover, we have something for everyone on our menu that's sure to make you feel right in Korea!

Other winners relevant to PennsylvAsia include Chengdu Gourmet for Best Chinese, Little Tokyo for Best Japanese and Best Sushi, Pho Van for Best Pho, Ramen Bar for Best Ramen, Tram's for Best Vietnamese, Lotus for Best Asian Grocer, and Panda Supermarket for Best International Grocery Store. These lists were for a long time notorious for their uninspired winners at the expense of smaller or more authentic restaurants, but in recent years have expanded beyond the small list of usual suspects.

New Vietnamese movie Face Off 8: Embrace of Light (Lật Mặt 8: Vòng Tay Nắng) in Pittsburgh, from September 19.

The 2025 Vietnamese movie Face Off 8: Embrace of Light (Lật Mặt 8: Vòng Tay Nắng) will play in Pittsburgh from September 19.

When a son’s dream to dance to the beat of his own heart pits him against his father’s wishes, family strife boils over in a clash between youthful aspirations and parental expectations. Can father and son find their way back together before all is lost? Directed by Ly Hai, produced by Minh Ha, with a 4-continent international release by 3388 Films.

It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills and the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and tickets are available online.

Running Dish now called Bombing Pot, coming eventually to Waterfront.

Bombing Pot is the new name of the all-you-can-eat revolving sushi, CHinese-style hot pot, and Korean-style BBQ coming eventually to the Waterfront. When it was announced for the area in September 2024 it was known as Running Dish, a concept with a Sterling, VA location from the team behind Sushi Bomb in Robinson. According to the directory, it will go into the spot across from Starbucks formerly occupied by Versona, Charming Charlie, and American Eagle.

Kazuyuki Nomura and "Emotional Distance and Refuge: Rethinking Multilingualism and Language Learning Motivation," September 24 at CMU.

via JapanSociety.org

Carnegie Mellon University's Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics Department will host Dr. Kazuyuki Nomura of Chiba University and his talk "Emotional Distance and Refuge: Rethinking Multilingualism and Language Learning Motivation" on September 24.

Guest lecturer Kazuyuki Nomura (Chiba University) explores how second language learning can serve as an emotional refuge rather than a path to integration, reframing motivation as a narrative process shaped by vulnerability, desire and symbolic distance.

2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) stays in Pittsburgh area through (at least) September 25.

The 2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編), which opened in Pittsburgh-area theaters on September 11, will stay here through (at least) September 25.

The Demon Slayer Corps plunge into Infinity Castle to defeat Muzan. However, the remaining Hashiras and the Demon Slayers who survived Tanjiro's Final Selection are pitted against the remaining members of the Twelve Kizuki first.

It is scheduled to play locally at many local theaters, including the Manor in Squirrel Hill, Cranberry Cinemas, Waterworks Cinemas, and the AMC theaters in Mt. Lebanon and South Hills. Tickets, and a real-time listing of theaters, are available online.

2004 Japanese animated film Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城) in Pittsburgh, from September 20.

The 2004 Hayao Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from September 20 through September 24, part of Ghibli Fest 2025. A synopsis, from the distributor:

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 is scheduled to play locally at the Waterworks Cinema, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: the shows on the 20th, 21st, and 24th are dubbed in English, while the shows on the 22nd and 23rd are in Japanese with English subtitles.

YeGa K-Food opens at Ineffable Cà Phê inside Enson Market in Point Breeze.

Jeonghee Choi of YeGa Kimchi has opened a Korean food stand, YeGa K-Food, at Ineffable Cà Phê inside Enson Market in Point Breeze. YeGa K-Food held its opening on Saturday, September 12, and is open from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Our special menu features:

Korean BBQ Chicken

Bibimbap

Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)

Oxtail Radish Soup

Dumplings

Enjoy a joyful evening with delicious food and Korean K-pop music. We look forward to welcoming you!

Beyond this newly-opened food stand, Choi's YeGa Kimchi sells a variety of kimchi, banchan, triangle kimbap, and dosirak boxes at several retailers and farmer's markets around the city. Enson Market is an Asian grocery that opened in June.