Matsuri: Autumn Night Market, November 19 at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Carnegie Mellon University Japanese Student Association will present its annual Matsuri on November 19, with a theme of Autumn Night Market.

Every year, CMU JSA holds a festival called "Matsuri" to celebrate Japanese culture through food, games, and performances. This year's theme is 夜の屋台 (Yoru no Yatai), or Autumn Night Market, and will revolve around the flavors and colors surrounding autumn.

This year's features

• An even greater selection of fresh, handmade Japanese street food items
• Some of our most popular game booths from last year
• Stamp rally with the opportunity to win gift cards
• Live performances by our very own CMU JSA members

It runs from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at University Center Connan (map). The event is free, but food and other events require tickets, which can be purchased at the door or online in advance.

Asian-made short film festival at CMU, November 9.

Carnegie Mellon University will host an Asian-made short film festival on November 9. Films include:

FIRST TIMERS by Jee Hoon Seo
An advanced surfer encounters a beginner surfer struggling on his first session and is reminded of his own beginnings.

DE CLOSIN NIGHT by Shicong Zhu & Ella Rouwen Chen
A Chinese theater student tries to get rid of her accent in order to land a college performance. But as she tries harder, the line between the skill set. and her self-identity gets blurred.

WALINONG SARI by Eugene Foo & Honey Ahmad
A warrior princess of Inderapura has to choose between a kingdom that comes with a strategic marriage or, to follow her heart for a life of adventure with a man who truly understands her.

OINK by Milky Tran
A story about unconditional admiration and how mothers can unconsciously pass on their own unhealthy habits and insecurities to their daughters.

The evening also includes a keynote address by filmmaker and Pittsburgh native Milky Tran, and the first 50 people to arrive get free Boba. It will be held at cConomy Auditorium, Jared L. Cohon University Center (map). Registration can be made online. Presented in collaboration with CMU International Film Festival, aKDPhi, Project Smile, Screenshot Asia, UPitt Asian Studies Center, and Big Straw Magazine.

Slam Poetry with Asia Samson, November 15 at Pitt-Johnstown.

The University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Program Board will present Slam Poetry with Asia Samson on November 15.

Since 2009, The Asia Project has toured over 2000 colleges with an acoustic music poetry act that has amazed audiences all over the country. On the microphone is Asia Samson: writer, poet and part-time ninja. He has been seen on HBO Def Poetry Jam and has shared the stage with such artists as Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, DMX, Mos Def, Dead Prez and KRS-One. Accompanying him on the guitar is his brother-in-law Jollan who uses music to create an atmosphere that brings poetry to emotional levels you would never expect. They have been featured on HBO Def Poetry, Button Poetry, TEDx, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, SoFar Sounds, Story Conference, and Entrepreneur’s Organization. They have worked with companies such as the US Military, Nokia, Disney, To Write Love On Her Arms and AEvolve. They have broken college-booking records for the most booked poetry act in the college market garnering them the awards of APCA College Performer of the Year and thrice APCA Spoken Word Artist of the Year.

The event start at 8:00 pm in the Student Union at UPJ, and registration is required.

Nakashima: A Bridge between East and West, November 12 at Pitt.

via nakashimawoodworkers.com

The Japanese Nationality Room Committee at the University of Pittsburgh will host Mira Nakashima and "Nakashima: A Bridge between East and West" on November 12.

Mira Nakashima is the daughter of the acclaimed architect, furniture designer, and craftsman George Nakashima. She will speak about her father's legacy and how his cultural ties to Japan affected his method of design in both furniture and architecture.

Mira Nakashima President and Creative Director of George Nakashima Woodworkers, who produce one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, made to order furniture in their workshop in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

The event runs from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in 324 Cathedral of Learning. It is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required.

Asian-made short film festival at CMU, November 9.

Carnegie Mellon University will host an Asian-made short film festival on November 9. Films include:

FIRST TIMERS by Jee Hoon Seo
An advanced surfer encounters a beginner surfer struggling on his first session and is reminded of his own beginnings.

DE CLOSIN NIGHT by Shicong Zhu & Ella Rouwen Chen
A Chinese theater student tries to get rid of her accent in order to land a college performance. But as she tries harder, the line between the skill set. and her self-identity gets blurred.

WALINONG SARI by Eugene Foo & Honey Ahmad
A warrior princess of Inderapura has to choose between a kingdom that comes with a strategic marriage or, to follow her heart for a life of adventure with a man who truly understands her.

OINK by Milky Tran
A story about unconditional admiration and how mothers can unconsciously pass on their own unhealthy habits and insecurities to their daughters.

The evening also includes a keynote address by filmmaker and Pittsburgh native Milky Tran, and the first 50 people to arrive get free Boba. It will be held at cConomy Auditorium, Jared L. Cohon University Center (map). Registration can be made online. Presented in collaboration with CMU International Film Festival, aKDPhi, Project Smile, Screenshot Asia, UPitt Asian Studies Center, and Big Straw Magazine.

Story Saturday: A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang, November 19 at Carnegie Museum of Art.

The Carnegie Museum of Art will present "Story Saturday: A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang" on November 19.

Join us in the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Decorative Arts and Design galleries for an in-person story time with curatorial assistant Alyssa Velazquez reading A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang followed by an art-making activity for children 12 and under.

Object Lesson: Wen-Ying Tsai, November 1 at University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh's University Art Gallery will host a discussion of a piece by Chinese-American artist Wen-Ying Tsai on November 1.

In 1971, the UAG acquired a work by Wen-Ying Tsai, an innovative Chinese-American artist best known for his cybernetic and light sculpture. The work has rarely been exhibited since that time. Join Prof. Alex Taylor and Vuk Vuković, PhD Student, as they take a closer look at Tsai’s work in the UAG collection. They will discuss Tsai’s work and discuss the special challenges of exhibiting and caring for kinetic sculpture.

The talk runs from 12:15 to 1:00 pm. Space is limited and registration is required.

Slam Poetry with Asia Samson, November 15 at Pitt-Johnstown.

The University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Program Board will present Slam Poetry with Asia Samson on November 15.

Since 2009, The Asia Project has toured over 2000 colleges with an acoustic music poetry act that has amazed audiences all over the country. On the microphone is Asia Samson: writer, poet and part-time ninja. He has been seen on HBO Def Poetry Jam and has shared the stage with such artists as Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, DMX, Mos Def, Dead Prez and KRS-One. Accompanying him on the guitar is his brother-in-law Jollan who uses music to create an atmosphere that brings poetry to emotional levels you would never expect. They have been featured on HBO Def Poetry, Button Poetry, TEDx, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, SoFar Sounds, Story Conference, and Entrepreneur’s Organization. They have worked with companies such as the US Military, Nokia, Disney, To Write Love On Her Arms and AEvolve. They have broken college-booking records for the most booked poetry act in the college market garnering them the awards of APCA College Performer of the Year and thrice APCA Spoken Word Artist of the Year.

The event start at 8:00 pm in the Student Union at UPJ, and registration is required.

Restoration of 1991 film Pushing Hands (推手) part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival, October 2.

A new restoration of the 1991 film Pushing Hands (推手) will play in Pittsburgh on October 2 as part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

Having just moved from Beijing, elderly tai chi master Mr. Chu (Sihung Lung) struggles to adjust to life in New York, living with his Americanized son Alex (Ye-tong Wang). Chu immediately butts heads with his put-upon white daughter-in-law, Martha (Deb Snyder), a writer who seems to blame him for her own paralyzing inability to focus. But when Chu begins teaching tai chi at a local school, his desire to make a meaningful connection comes to fruition in the most unexpected of ways. PUSHING HANDS is the debut film from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee, forming the first chapter in his “Father Knows Best” trilogy, which depicts the tensions between the traditional Confucian values of the older generation and the realities of modern life. Co-written by collaborator James Schamus, PUSHING HANDS was selected by the 1992 Berlin International Film Festival and won three Golden Horse Awards, paving the way for Lee’s worldwide success with films such as CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Presented in a new 2K restoration.

The movie will play at 1:00 pm at the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium in Oakland (map). Ticket information is not available online, but the film screening this movie has replaced was a non-ticketed event, so it's likely guests can just show up.

Nakama voted best Japanese restaurant in Pittsburgh by Pittsburghers who don't know Japanese restaurants, beating out Umami, Teppanyaki Kyoto, GetGo.

via @familymart.japan 

The Pittsburgh City-Paper announced the winners of this year's Best of Pittsburgh readers' poll today, with Nakama again being named Best Japanese food in the city. The restaurant, with locations in the South Side and Wexford, is the perennial winner of this and other local readers' polls, at the expense of more authentic Japanese restaurants, and thus the joke about Nakama and GetGo is an annual one. Umami placed second and Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse third. Readers also selected winners for Best Asian Fusion, Best Bubble Tea, Best Chinese, and Best Korean, Best Sushi, Best Thai, and Best Vietnamese.

Pitt's Asian Studies Center continues language partner program.

The University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center is continuing its language partner program for people interested in learning an Asian language or helping Asian students at Pitt meet native English speakers. From the latest newsletter:

Are you looking to practice an Asian language? Or are you a native speaker of an Asian language hoping to practice English? The Asian Studies Center can help match you with a language exchange partner! The form to sign-up can be found here. The program is open to university students and community members living in Pittsburgh. Languages represented are English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, and Vietnamese. Please email asia@pitt.edu with any questions.

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance hiring Voter Mobilization Canvassers.

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance of Pittsburgh is hiring Voter Mobilization Canvassers, with a preference for those proficient in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Spanish.

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Pittsburgh, PA

$20 an hour

Part-time, Temporary. Hours range from 8-20 per week and shift hours are flexible.

Summary

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO is seeking Voter Mobilization
Canvassers to help our team execute our Every Vote Counts electoral program. The anticipated start date is October 3, 2022 with an end-date of November 8, 2022.

Job Overview

The Voter Mobilization Canvassers will be essential to the success of our Every Vote Counts campaign. Field canvassers will be responsible for direct voter contact through door-to-door canvassing. Canvassers will be based in the Pittsburgh Area, and should have a reliable mode of transportation. Nights and weekends may be required, but hours may also be flexible.

Excellent communication skills required, because you will be interacting with voters! Must be able to follow procedures, track information, practice cultural competence, and have a friendly, professional attitude, demeanor and appearance. Experience helpful but not required; you will be provided with on-the-job training.

Kate Tsang film Marvelous and the Black Hole in Pittsburgh, September 29, part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The Kate Tsang film Marvelous and the Black Hole will play in Pittsburgh on September 29, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

A teenage delinquent befriends a surly magician who helps her navigate her inner demons and dysfunctional family with sleight of hand magic. A teenage delinquent (Miya Cech) befriends a surly magician (Rhea Perlman) who helps her navigate her inner demons and dysfunctional family with sleight of hand magic. A coming-of-age comedy that touches on unlikely friendships, grief and finding hope in the darkest moments.

It will play at the Tull Family Theater in Sewickley (map) on September 29, and tickets for the 7:30 show are available online. Pitt affiliates are eligible to receive free tickets by following the instructions on the order link.

Fourth edition of "Fail-Safe: Los Angeles x Pittsburgh"---featuring Asian-American artists Young Joon Kwak, Kim Ye, Caroline Yoo, Davine Byon, and Stephanie Tsong---at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, November 11 and 12.

The November 11 and 12 edition of "Fail-Safe: Los Angeles x Pittsburgh" will prominently feature a number of LA- and Pittsburgh-based Asian-American artists and performers.

Fail-Safe is a recurring variety performance show which brings together artists exploring performance across disciplines to present new experimental projects in early stages of development. Organized by Angela Washko, Scott Andrew, and Jesse Stiles, this fourth edition of Fail-Safe will create a dialogue about performance between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. Fail-Safe: Los Angeles x Pittsburgh comprises two evenings of new and in-progress performance works by interdisciplinary musicians, performance artists, and dancers from these two cities. On both evenings, visiting artists will be preceded by a lineup of Pittsburgh-based artists whose practices share affinities.

On November 11th, Los Angeles-based artists Young Joon Kwak and Kim Ye present a new experimental performance work from their series Rites of Matrilineal Dissent. The digitally mediated performance takes audiences through a journey of failure and discovery, of new selves and new bodies, and new forms of love and kinship. Pittsburgh artists include Caroline Yoo, Goofy Toof, London Williams, and MICHIYAYA Dance featuring Anya Clark.

On November 12th, visiting artist duo Xina Xurner (Marvin Astorga and Young Joon Kwak) will present their cathartic music performance combining DIY and power electronics, mutated vocals, and bad drag to expand ideas about queer and trans bodies. Pittsburgh artists include Swampwalk, Sacred Sauce (Samira Mendoza & Gladstone Butler), and Davine Byon. The performances will be followed by a dance party hosted by Formosa (Jellyfish).

Please be advised: these performances will explore the topic of sexuality and some may include nudity.

Tickets are available online. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater is located at 5941 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map).

7th Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival, September 24 at Mellon Park.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center will present its 7th Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival on September 24 at Mellon Park (map). It will run from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and offer traditional Chinese opera, Asian food, Chinese cultural performances, Asian food, a selection of vendors, and more.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration at Pitt, September 12.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Cener and Global Hub will host a Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on September 12 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Join the Asian Studies Center for a Mid-Autumn Festival! Come enjoy mooncakes, candy, tea, a lantern-making activity, and the chance to win prizes!

It will be held at the Global Hub, located on the 1st floor of Posvar Hall (map), from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Video Party and DJ Night: Celebrating Asian Music/Music Videos [for Pitt undergrads], September 9.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center is presenting "Video Party and DJ Night: Celebrating Asian Music/Music Videos" on September 9.

Join Screenshot: ASIA for a Video Party and DJ Night celebrating Asian music and music videos. Videos are by Warren Fu, director (Doja Cat, Daft Punk, Maggie Rogers) and mamesjao, director (Trippie Red, Amber Liu, August 08). Live Q&A with: no_4mat, director and musician; Kwan Au, director and CGI artist; mui zyu, director and musician. Music by: DJ Formosa (from Jellyfish, a queer DJ collective). Snacks, pizza, and refreshments will be provided! This event is geared toward undergraduate students.

The event starts at 8:00 pm at the O'Hara Student Center.

Pittsburgh Tzu Chi Academy weekend Chinese school still accepting students for Chinese language and culture classes.

Pittsburgh Tzu Chi Academy is still accepting students for its upcoming school year that begins September 11, 2022.

Tzu Chi Academy, Pittsburgh provides local children from kindergarten through high school with quality program not only aimed at student’s language learning but also character building. The school will implement “Still Thoughts” education method to weave compassion, relief, honesty, and integrity into teaching. We will nurture the children in a loving and calm environment; motivate them to learn the Chinese language and culture in today’s diversified world. A creative Still Thoughts humanity and moral-principle course will be added to the curriculum to foster the children with virtue teamwork, great love, respect, calm, and thanksgiving.

Pitt's Asian Studies Center hiring National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) Program Manager.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center is hiring a Program Manager for its National Consortium for Teaching About Asia. A bit from the job ad:

The primary duties of the Pitt NCTA are to provide professional development and educational opportunities for K-12 educators, to develop teaching materials on East Asia for K-12 education, and to support the wider network of NCTA nationwide. The Program Manager will draw on their K-12 and Asian Studies expertise to propose topics and manage the logistics for in-person and online professional development for K-12 educators in the eleven states (occasionally requiring evening or weekend hours and occasional domestic and international travel). The incumbent will be responsible for numerous pre- and post- logistics of programs/courses and NCTA foundational seminars, including creating technological supporting infrastructure, managing software and hardware needs, and creating such things as webpages and online registration forms for individual programs.

The incumbent will also assist with projects such as website development, creation of teaching materials, and updating and maintenance of current Pitt NCTA and Japan Studies websites. Specific functions also include processing financial payments as assigned by the Assistant Director, and assisting the AD in monitoring expenditures against the budget for individual programs, courses, and projects as assigned. The incumbent will manage the NCTA Teacher Resource Library, including making recommendations of new materials for purchase, and cataloguing new additions to the collection. The Program Manager will also take a leadership role in running the Japanese High School Speech Contest and assist with other other Japan Studies related duties as required. The Program Manager will supervise a student assistant. 80% of the position is devoted to the Pitt NCTA with 20% to work for the Asian Studies Center, particularly Japan Studies related work.

7th Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival, September 24 at Mellon Park.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center will present its 7th Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival on September 24 at Mellon Park (map). It will run from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and offer traditional Chinese opera, Asian food, Chinese cultural performances, Asian food, a selection of vendors, and more.