2019 Japanese documentary Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて) online on September 25, part of 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award.

The 2019 Japanese documentary Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて), named the 2020 Honorable mention in this year's Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, will screen online on September 25. A summary, via Japan Cuts:

Nobuyoshi Kikuchi is a man contentedly out of step with the times. Forgoing modern technology, the 77-year-old master book designer (soutei-ka) has utilized the traditional tools of scissors, rulers, and pencils to design over 15,000 extraordinary book covers by hand throughout his decades-long career. With careful, philosophical consideration of every aspect of the process, Kikuchi also chooses the paper and ink to best represent the essence of each book. Filmed over three years, this passion project from Hirokazu Kore-eda protege Nanako Hirose (whose late father was also a book designer) matches Kikuchi’s contemplative and considerate approach to his craft, offering a thoroughly measured portrait of the pursuit of perfection and 94 minutes of ASMR for design enthusiasts and bibliophiles.

The free event starts at 7:00 pm and is followed by a conversation with director Nanako Hirose. It will be hosted live on Vimeo.

Japanese documentary Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) online as part of 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, tonight, September 24.

The Japanese documentary Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) will be presented online this evening from 6:30 pm, followed by a conversation with the director, Soda Kazuhiro, as part of the University of Pittsburgh's 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award.

2019 documentary Queer Japan (クィア・ジャパン) part of (online) Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival, October 12.

The 2019 documentary Queer Japan (クィア・ジャパン) will play online on October 12 as part of the Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Queer Japan is an ensemble film that profiles a range of artists, academics, community organizers, and activists who are members of the LGBTQcommunity in Japan. Kolbeins has described the film as "a series of character studies," rather than an issue-focused documentary.

The film will be available online on the 12th and viewers will have 24 hours to complete it.

New Chinese movie Leap (夺冠) in Pittsburgh from September 25.

The 2020 Chinese movie Leap (夺冠) will play in Pittsburgh from September 25. A summary of the film, starring Gong Li and Huang Bo, from MyDramaList:

The film tells the journey of several generations of Chinese National Women's Volleyball Team and their touching stories of tenacious struggle and glory for the country for the past 40 years.

It will play locally 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.

2019 Japanese film Lupin III: The First (ルパン三世 THE FIRST) in Pittsburgh, October 18 and 21.

The 2019 Japanese film Lupin III: The First (ルパン三世 THE FIRST) will play in Pittsburgh on October 18 and 21. A summary from the distributor:

The iconic “gentleman thief” Lupin III returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning adventure, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made LUPIN THE 3RD one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in a thrilling new caper that is sure to delight fans old and new.

It will play locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Monroeville, and tickets are available online. The October 18th screening is dubbed in English while the October 21st one has English subtitles.

2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) playing online via Tull Family Theater, from November 16.

The 2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) will play online via the Tull Family Theater in Sewickley from November 16. A synopsis from the film's official site:

Shaken by the news of his father’s dementia, artist Maleonn creates “Papa’s Time Machine,” a wondrous time-travel adventure performed on stage with life-size mechanical puppets. Through the play’s production, he confronts his own mortality. Maleonn finds grace and unexpected joy in this moving meditation on art, the agonies of love and loss, and the circle of life.

It played in Pittsburgh last year and was scheduled to run online this month but was cancelled due to the Rangos Giant Cinema's closure. Tickets for the November screenings are not yet available.

The Korean Peninsula and the U.S. Commitment to the Region, September 30 with World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh will host "The Korean Peninsula and the U.S. Commitment to the Region" online on September 30.

Is North Korea the nation posing the greatest threat to the U.S.? Why do we need to pay attention to what’s happening in the Korean Peninsula? Amidst COVID-19 and its fallout, policymakers are confronted with newly emergent issues alongside pre-existing ones. As the pandemic spreads, US-North Korea talks remain stalled, inter-Korean relations persist as mostly one-sided, and North Korea has continued to test and refine its military capabilities as well as ratchet up its rhetoric, and COVID-19 has intensified a growing US-China strategic competition. From a decades-old military alliance to deep economic ties and a large and vibrant Korean-American community, the linkages between the United States and the Korean Peninsula remain as important as ever.

The Stimson Center and Stimson’s 38 North program, working with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, presents a dialogue to discuss the importance of the US commitment to the Korean Peninsula. Speakers include: (Ret.) Walter Sharp, former Commander, US Forces Korea (2008-2011) and former President of the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA), Jenny Town, Stimson Fellow & Deputy Director of Stimson’s 38 North, and moderated by Clint Work, Stimson Fellow & Security for a New Century & 38 North.

The talk runs from 2:00 to 3:00 pm online and is free and open to the public. Registration can be completed online.

BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비) in Pittsburgh from September 24.

The upcoming BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비) will play in Pittsburgh from September 24 through October 1.

BTS WORLD TOUR 'LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF' is now over. The worldwide stadium tour topped the Billboard Boxscore, and marked BTS as the first Korean group to perform at Wembley Stadium. The tour took place across Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, São Paulo, London, Paris, Osaka, Shizuoka, Riyadh, and Seoul. With unprecedented access, BREAK THE SILENCE: THE MOVIE travels with BTS throughout the tour, exploring each band member behind the curtain. Off stage, we see another side of BTS. The seven members begin to candidly tell personal stories they have never voiced before. Facing my other self ‘PERSONA’

It will play locally at the Cinemark in Monaca (through the 1st), Monroeville (through the 27th), and Robinson (through the 30th), and the AMC Loews in Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

Discussion of Leslie Chang's Factory Girls, October 15 with University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center.

The University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center will host a discussion of Leslie Chang's 2008 book Factory Girls on October 15.

This reading group for educators explores literary texts from a global perspective. Content specialists present the work and its context, and together we brainstorm innovative pedagogical practices for incorporating the text and its themes into the curriculum. Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 5-7:30 PM. Books and Act 48 credit are provided.

More showtimes announced for 4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), in Pittsburgh from September 24.

More showtimes have been announced for the 4K remaster of the 1988 Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), which will play in Pittsburgh from September 24. Wikipedia provides a summary of the film:

Set in a dystopian 2019, Akira tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, a leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amidst chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo. While most of the character designs and settings were adapted from the manga, the plot differs considerably and does not include much of the last half of the manga. The soundtrack, which draws heavily from traditional Indonesian gamelan as well as Japanese noh music, was composed by Shōji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark in McCandless on the 24th and the Cinemark in Robinson from the 24th through 30th; tickets are available online.

"Make Tea, Not War: Tea and Conflict in Russia and Northeast Asia," October 1 (online) at Pitt.

by Flood G.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies will present a discussion and demonstration of Japanese green teas, "Make Tea, Not War: Tea and Conflict in Russia and Northeast Asia," on October 1.

Join the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies and the Asian Studies Center for a demonstration and tasting of Japanese green teas. We will discuss tea in the context of regional conflicts, starting with the Russo-Japanese war, and guide the audience in the proper brewing techniques.

Registration for the 4:00 pm event is required. Pitt students have an opportunity to request a free sample from Squirrel Hill's Dobra Tea upon registration.

Chinese Language & Culture Club Meeting at Pitt, September 22.

Chinese Dim Sum, by Lezlie (Creative Commons)

The University of Pittsburgh's Chinese Language & Culture Club will meet every other week this semester, with the next meeting onilne on September 22 at 8:00 pm.

Join the Chinese Language & Culture Club for their bi-weekly meetings. The club celebrates the Chinese culture, language, festivals, and traditions. This semester, we’ll celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, watch Chinese TV shows, learn about Pitt Chinese Programs, and learn how to make hot pot! etc.

A Zoom link should follow next week, but those interested may also contact Dr. Bei Cheng at beicheng at pitt.edu.

Three Japanese documentaries to be screened September 24 - 26 (online) at Pitt.

As part of the 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, the Japan Council of the University of Pittsburgh and SCREENSHOT: ASIA will screen three documentaries online later this month:

* Friday, September 24: Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) at 6:30 pm followed by a conversation with the director, Soda Kazuhiro.
* Saturday, September 25: Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて), the 2020 Honorable Mention, at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Nanako Hirose.
* Sunday, September 26: An Ant Strikes Back (アリ地獄天国), the 2020 Grand Prize winner, at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Tokachi Tsuchiya.

"Jasmine Cho’s Portraits in Icing: The Intersection of Representation, Race, and Cookies," online at Heinz History Center, September 24.

via @jasminemcho

The Heinz History Center will present "Jasmine Cho’s Portraits in Icing: The Intersection of Representation, Race, and Cookies" online on September 24.

While the Smithsonian’s Portraits of Pittsburgh exhibition is filled with a range of portrait styles, none are as unique as the portraits that Pittsburgh artist Jasmine Cho paints onto cookies. Join Jasmine for a portrait demonstration and conversation about her unique combination of cookie art and social justice. Explore how Jasmine uses cookies to initiate conversations on race, creating intricate portraits of important Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and giving representation to a historically underrepresented community.

Tickets for the discussion and demonstration are $5 and available online.

Online dance workshop for Seventeen's "Snap Shoot" with PITT FRESA, September 19.

PITT Fresh Entertainment by Student Artists (FRESA) is hosting an online dance workshop for Seventeen's "Snap Shoot" on September 19.

Fresitas, it's time for another online workshop! This week, our awesome Internal VP Cathy Si will be teaching Snap Shoot by Seventeen-- see you there!

The event is open to the University of Pittsburgh student community and the Zoom link for the 12:00 - 2:00 pm workshop is available on the event's page.

4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ) in Pittsburgh, September 24.

A 4K remaster of the 1988 Japanese movie Akira (アキラ) will play in Pittsburgh on September 24. Wikipedia provides a summary of the film:

Set in a dystopian 2019, Akira tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, a leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amidst chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo. While most of the character designs and settings were adapted from the manga, the plot differs considerably and does not include much of the last half of the manga. The soundtrack, which draws heavily from traditional Indonesian gamelan as well as Japanese noh music, was composed by Shōji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark in McCandless and tickets are now available online.

Chinese movie Wild Grass (荞麦疯长) continues in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 23.

The 2020 Chinese movie Wild Grass (荞麦疯长), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 10, will continue here through at least September 23. Something of a synopsis, from the distributor:

In the 1990s, the two girls and a boy who first entered the society tested the incredible destiny they experienced in the pursuit of a new life. In the flourishing 1990s, they rose up with the dream and they survived.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

"Becoming Taiwanese: Religion, Colonialism, and Ethnogenesis in 20th Century Taiwan" online at Pitt, October 2.

The University of Pittsburgh will host Dr. Evan Dawley and his talk "Becoming Taiwanese: Religion, Colonialism, and Ethnogenesis in 20th Century Taiwan" on October 2. A description of the book from whence the talk's name is drawn:

What does it mean to be Taiwanese? This question sits at the heart of Taiwan’s modern history and its place in the world. In contrast to the prevailing scholarly focus on Taiwan after 1987, Becoming Taiwanese examines the important first era in the history of Taiwanese identity construction during the early twentieth century, in the place that served as the crucible for the formation of new identities: the northern port city of Jilong (Keelung).

Part colonial urban social history, part exploration of the relationship between modern ethnicity and nationalism, Becoming Taiwanese offers new insights into ethnic identity formation. Evan Dawley examines how people from China’s southeastern coast became rooted in Taiwan; how the transfer to Japanese colonial rule established new contexts and relationships that promoted the formation of distinct urban, ethnic, and national identities; and how the so-called retrocession to China replicated earlier patterns and reinforced those same identities. Based on original research in Taiwan and Japan, and focused on the settings and practices of social organizations, religion, and social welfare, as well as the local elites who served as community gatekeepers, Becoming Taiwanese fundamentally challenges our understanding of what it means to be Taiwanese.

The 3:00 pm lecture is free and open to the public via Zoom.

Korean Conversation Hour (수다 시간) with Pitt's Daehwa Korean Conversation Club, Sundays from September 13.

The University of Pittsburgh's Daehwa Korean Conversation Club will begin a weekly online Korean Conversation Hour on Sundays from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.

We are happy to announce that the Daehwa Korean Conversation Club will be starting a weekly Korean Conversation Hour (수다 시간)!

Students will have conversations using Korean within small groups, and it will be a great opportunity for those studying Korean to practice speaking. All students are welcome, from new learners to native speakers.

Please note that this will be separate from our regular weekly meetings on Fridays, which use both English and Korean. The Conversation Hour will be every Sunday 4:00-5:00 PM ET on Zoom. The first gathering will be this Sunday, September 13th. We hope to see you all there!

Join using the Zoom link below:
https://pitt.zoom.us/j/97651721960

The event is free and open to the Pitt community.

Bong Joon-ho film Snowpiercer (설국열차) online at Pitt, part of Watch Party Wednesday series, September 16.

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The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2013 Bong Joon-ho film Snowpiercer (설국열차) online on September 16, part of its Watch Party Wednesday series. An introduction, via a review from The Atlantic:

Snowpiercer is set after the onset of an ice age, triggered by humanity’s efforts to solve global warming, and set on a train that runs perpetually around the earth, doing one circuit per year, using some combo of a perpetual motion engine and recycled ice that it’s better not to think too hard about. The glorious advantage of setting the movie entirely on a train is that it’s so easy to make the class stratifications Bong wants to talk about clear. At the back of the train, conditions are grim; everyone’s got soot on their faces, people are missing limbs, they eat black jellied “protein bars” handed out by the military, and once in a while their kids get measured and snatched away for reasons unknown.

The 7:00 pm event is free and open to the Pitt community, though registration is required.