2025 Japanese movie 100 Meters (ひゃくえむ) in Pittsburgh, October 12 - 14.

The upcoming Japanese film 100 Meters (ひゃくえむ), to be released in Japan on September 19, will play in Pittsburgh October 12 through 14. A synopsis, from the distributor GKids:

100 METERS follows Togashi, a track star who is born to run. As a kid, he is naturally gifted and wins every 100-meter race without effort. But in sixth grade, he meets Komiya, a transfer student who is full of determination but lacks technique. In teaching him, Togashi gives Komiya a new purpose: to win no matter what. Years pass by, and Togashi and Komiya meet again as rivals on the track and reveal their true selves

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online. THe October 12 and 14 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while the October 13 shows are dubbed in English.

Exhibition Opening: Ting Tong Chang, November 21 at Mattress Factory.

The opening reception for the upcoming Ting Tong Chang (張碩尹) exhibition at the Mattress Factory will be held on November 21.

Discover our artist-in-residence, Ting Tong Chang's latest solo exhibition at Mattress Factory! A new immersive installation will be displayed on the lower floor of our 500 Sampsonia building.

Chang’s satirical gaze leaves no aspect of society untouched. Revelling in the absurd and illogical, he makes a mockery of socio-political subjects ranging from the social and ecological effects of consumerism to the functioning of the art world itself. Working across the distinct practices of immersive installation, video and theatre, his transgressive practice co-opts science, technology and history to dissect the world around him.

Chang was selected for exhibition by a panel of Mattress Factory alumni artists through the 2024 International Open Call. Artists who have worked in residency with Mattress Factory offer perspective unlike any other, one that is deeply familiar with the museum, engaged in many aspects of the contemporary art field, and invested in pushing our exhibitions in new directions.

Please note, parking is limited at our main lot at 505 Jacksonia Street, with additional street parking available in the surrounding neighborhood.

The event runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required. This exhibition will be presented at 500 Sampsonia Way. in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood of the North Side (map).

2025 Japanese animated movie Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl (ヴァージン・パンク) in Pittsburgh, November 11 and 13.

The 2025 Japanese animated movie Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl (ヴァージン・パンク) will play in the Pittsburgh area on November 11 and 13.

Conditions for Receiving Bounty: Bring the brain of a wanted criminal possessing illegal Somadea to the authorities. Whether the target is alive or dead… is irrelevant. The year 2099. Humanity has overcome all injury and illness with the development of Medical Android Technology “Somadea.” Somadea grants superior physical, but by illegally modifying it, Somadea can be misused for criminal purposes. To handle these crimes, the government established the Bounty Hunter System. Registered civilians can kill wanted criminals and are rewarded with large bounties. In this unforgiving world, Ubu Kamigori hunts criminals as a bounty hunter. But one day, waiting in her home is the man she shares a sordid history with—Mr. Elegance. And so, her destiny begins to unravel. A tale woven by mechanical girls and gunpowder smoke, this suspenseful action begins! Featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes content from Director Yasuomi Umetsu and SHAFT Animation Studio in theaters only!

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Westmoreland, and the Cinemarkt theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble in Pittsburgh, November 15.

Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble will return to Pittsburgh on November 15.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. Masters of traditional Tuvan instruments as well as the art of throat singing, Alash are deeply committed to traditional Tuvan music and culture. At the same time, they are fans of western music. Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, the musicians subtly infuse their songs with western elements, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new, yet true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

This is a reschedule of its March 7 concert and a day later than originally announced. The group will perform at the First Unitarian Church in Shadyside (map) from 8:00 pm. Tickets are available for purchase in-person at Jerry's Records, Government Center, Vinyl Remains, and Rosie's Records, or online via Brown Paper Tickets (which charges a 12% service fee).

2025 Japanese animated movie Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (劇場版 チェンソーマン レゼ篇) in Pittsburgh, from October 23.

The 2025 Japanese animated movie Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (劇場版 チェンソーマン レゼ篇) will play in the Pittsburgh area, from October 23.

For the first time, Chainsaw Man slashes his way onto the big screen in an epic, action-fueled adventure that continues the hugely popular anime series. Denji worked as a Devil Hunter for the yakuza, trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, until the yakuza betrayed him and had him killed. As he was losing consciousness, Denji’s beloved chainsaw-powered devil-dog, Pochita, made a deal with Denji and saved his life. This fused the two together, creating the unstoppable Chainsaw Man. Now, in a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into his world, and Denji faces his deadliest battle yet, fueled by love in a world where survival knows no rules.

At this point showtimes and tickets have been announced only for the Cinemark in Monroeville. Shows from the 23rd are in Japanese with English subtitles, while select shows on the 24th, 25th, and 26th are dubbed in English.

4K restoration of 1997 Satoshi Kon film Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) in Pittsburgh area, from October 3.

A new 4K restoration of the 1997 Japanese animated film Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) will play in Pittsburgh from October 3 through October 8.

“Who are...you?” Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol, makes a bold transition into acting, taking on a role in a drama that includes a disturbing assault scene, and even releasing a provocative nude photo book. Her dramatic reinvention grabs public attention, but also provokes unease among her fans, her manager, and even herself as she struggles with the rapid shift from her days as a pop idol. As a stalker begins to shadow her, a screenwriter and a photographer are murdered one after another. "Did I kill them?" Mima begins to wonder if a split personality is gradually taking over, just like the character that she plays in the drama. Then "the other Mima" the pop idol who was supposed to have "graduated," appears in front of her…

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

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)

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).

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.

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.