2024 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training (鬼滅の刃 柱稽古編) in Pittsburgh, from February 22.

The 2024 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training (鬼滅の刃 柱稽古編) will play in Pittsburgh from February 22.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training- will feature “A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light” (Episode 11) from the Swordsmith Village Arc, featuring the conclusion of the fierce battle between Tanjiro and Upper Four demon Hantengu, as well as Nezuko's triumph over the sun. Seamlessly followed by Episode 1 of the highly anticipated Hashira Training Arc, featuring the start of training conducted by the Hashira in preparation for the forthcoming final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, an episode never before seen by audiences.

It is scheduled (so far) to play at many local theaters, including the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Classic South Hills Village, Waterworks Cinema, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.

16 feature films plus host of short films included in 2024 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, March 15 - 28.

The Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, which launched in 2016 as the area's only festival focused on Japanese cinema, has recently announced its 2024 line-up, which will include 16 full-length films and a selection of short films, and a focus on new releases and horror films. Movies will screen at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from March 15 through 28, and include:

A Man (ある男, 2023)

A Page of Madness (狂った一頁, 1926)

Baby Assassins 2 Babies (ベイビーわるきゅーれ2, 2023)

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (ドロステのはてで僕ら, 2020) - Opening Night

Blue Giant (Blue Giant, 2023)

High and Low (天国と地獄, 1968)

House (ハウス, 1977)

Ichi the Killer (殺し屋１, 2001)

Kuroneko (藪の中の黒猫, 1968)

Monster (怪物, 2023)

Ninja vs. Shark (妖獣奇譚 ニンジャVSシャーク, 2023) - Closing Night

Noroi: The Curse (ノロイ, 2005)

Ringu (リング, 1998)

The Face of Another (他人の顔, 1966)

The First Slam Dunk (THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, 2022)

Tokyo Story (東京物語, 1953)

More details about each film is available at each link. Not all times and events have been announced yet, but select ticket packages are now available online. The Row House is a single-screen theater located at 4115 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Japanese animated films Rascal Does Not Dream double feature in Pittsburgh, March 24 and 25.

Two 2023 Japanese animated films, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out (青春ブタ野郎はおでかけシスターの夢を見ない) and Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid (青春ブタ野郎はランドセルガールの夢を見ない) will play in Pittsburgh on March 24 and 25 as a double feature. The films adapt volumes eight and nine, respectively, of the manga series. Wikipedia provides a general overview of the manga series:

High school student Sakuta Azusagawa's life takes a turn for the unexpected when he meets teenage actress Mai Sakurajima, dressed as a bunny girl, wandering through a library and not being noticed by anyone else there. Mai is intrigued that Sakuta is the only one who can see her, as other people are unable to see her, even when she is dressing normally or attempting to stay away from celebrity life. Calling this phenomenon "Adolescence Syndrome", Sakuta decides to solve this mystery, while continuing to get closer to Mai and meeting other girls who suffer from "Adolescence Syndrome" as well.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in the North Hills, and tickets are available online. The March 24 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while the March 25 ones are dubbed in English.

Winter Matsuri with CMU's Japanese Student Association, February 17.

Carnegie Mellon University's Japanese Student Association will host its Winter Matsuri on February 17.

We are so excited to announce Carnegie Mellon's JSA's next major event of the semester, our Winter Matsuri! This year we will be hosting Matsuri with the theme of 細雪（ささめゆき）, or Light Snow, with the hopes that the end of winter will bring about beautiful snow!

Join us on February 17th, from 12-6 PM in the Cohon University Center (Rangos Ballroom) and play some traditional Japanese games, eat winter-themed foods, and watch performances from both university J-pop band and local Pittsburgh performers.

2009 Japanese movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete in Pittsburgh, February 21 and 22.

The 2009 Japanese movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, the director's cut of the 2005 movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, will play in Pittsburgh on February 21 and 22.

Continuing the storyline based on the hit Playstation® game Final Fantasy VII, two years have passed since the ruins of Midgar stand as a testament to the sacrifices made in order to bring peace. However, the world will soon face a new menace. A mysterious illness is spreading fast. Old enemies are astir. And Cloud, who walked away from the life of a hero to live in solitude, must step forward yet again . . .

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; the February 21 screening is dubbed in English while the February 22 show is in Japanese with English subtitles.

New Thai restaurant coming soon to Fox Chapel.

A new Thai restaurant is coming soon to Fox Chapel, next in line in a series of former Thai places. New ownership has purchased the former The98 spot at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), which was previously the longtime home of Thai Place, and added a new paint job. Management said the new restaurant, which does not yet have a name, may keep some menu items from The98, which was a new venture from the Took Took 98 team in operation from January to summer 2023.

2024 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training (鬼滅の刃 柱稽古編) in Pittsburgh, from February 22.

The 2024 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training (鬼滅の刃 柱稽古編) will play in Pittsburgh from February 22.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training- will feature “A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light” (Episode 11) from the Swordsmith Village Arc, featuring the conclusion of the fierce battle between Tanjiro and Upper Four demon Hantengu, as well as Nezuko's triumph over the sun. Seamlessly followed by Episode 1 of the highly anticipated Hashira Training Arc, featuring the start of training conducted by the Hashira in preparation for the forthcoming final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, an episode never before seen by audiences.

It is scheduled (so far) to play at many local theaters, including the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Classic South Hills Village, Waterworks Cinema, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.

"Robo-Sexism: Designing and Programming Gender in Robots and AI with Perspectives from Japan" at Carnegie Mellon University, February 16.

The Department of Modern Languages at Carnegie Mellon University will host Dr. Jennifer Robertson and her talk "Robo-Sexism: Designing and Programming Gender in Robots and AI with Perspectives from Japan" on February 16.

Roboticists are designing gendered robots based on simplified sex and gender stereotypes of human female and male bodies. Some of these gendered robots are programmed with algorithms – or A.I. (“artificial intelligence”) – similarly based on their presumption of inherent human female and male behavioral differences. For this talk, guest lecturer Jennifer Robertson, Ph.D., will focus primarily on what she and others find problematic and even troubling about the construction of gender in robot design and A.I. algorithms. Robertson acknowledges that sex-gender bias exists not just among hardware and software designers, who take for granted the binary division of sex and gender. She notes that this bias is also prevalent among users and consumers, which, Robertson argues, is an underlying problem in the emerging field of kansei kōgaku, or “affective engineering,” based on applying user preferences in industrial design. In this talk, she will also consider the concept and possibilities of “queering” robots and A.I.

The Japanese Studies program is pleased to welcome Jennifer Robertson to campus for this talk. Robertson is a Professor Emerita of Anthropology and on the faculty of the Robotics Institute at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The talk runs from 12:00 to 2:00 pm in Posner Hall room 340 (map).

"Characters across Asia: Using "Kanji" to write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese," February 1 at University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures will host Dr. Zev Handel and his talk "Characters across Asia: Using "Kanji" to write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese" on February 1.

Chinese characters originated in China over 3,000 years ago. Prior to their creation, East Asia was completely devoid of writing. By the time of the Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 220 CE), China already had a long literary tradition, a flourishing culture, and a sophisticated government bureaucracy. In this talk, Professor Handel will explain how the building blocks of the Chinese script were adapted to represent the words and sounds of Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean - and why today, only Japanese still use kanji in their writing.

Zev Handel is a professor of Chinese and chair of the Department of Asian Languages and Literature at the University of Washington, Seattle.

The talk runs from 11:00 to 12:00 in 4127 Sennott Square (map).

Mochi donuts hit the menu at Bubble Bee Shadyside.

Bubble Bee Shadyside, which opened on Centre Ave. in the fall, announced on social media last week that it has added mochi donuts to the menu.

🎉 Welcome to Bubble Bee @ Shadyside! 🎉

We are thrilled to invite you to join our vibrant community of bubble tea enthusiasts right here on Facebook! 🥤

🌟 What sets us apart? 🌟

🍩 Exciting News! Introducing our NEW Mochi Donuts 🍩
Indulge in the delightful fusion of chewy mochi and delectable donuts. These sweet treats are the perfect match for our signature bubble teas.

Ecology, Society, and Imagination in Oyamada Hiroki's The Factory and the Hole, February 14 at Pitt. [Rescheduled]

University of Pittsburgh Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures Master's student Hayley Gerlach will present Ecology, Society, and Imagination in Oyamada Hiroki's The Factory and the Hole on February 14.

Two of Oyamada Hiroko's best-known works are her proletariat debut novella The Factory and her Akutagawa-prize winning novella The Hole. Scholars are only beginning ot shift their focus to Oyamada, and as of yet, litte scholarsly work has been dedicated to analyzing the animals that are characteristic of her writing. In my thesis, I examine the liminal space between human and nonhuman wolrds in Oyamada's speculative fiction and what these spaces say about societal and environmental responsibility. First, I examine The Factory from an ecocritical perspective. I discuss how Oyamada's factory functions as a capitalsist 'ecosystem,' and how the animals on its periphery contribute to and disrupt this ecosystem. I argue that the animals illuminate the human and nonhuman costs of capitalism, while also offering opportunities for resistance. Next, I discuss animals in The Hole. Reminiscent of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the protagonist falls into a hole before encountering a cast of strange characters that lead her to question her own existence. I argue that the wild animals and insects in the rural ecosystem present a fluid and chaotic form of existence that offer an alternative to Asahi's static domestic life and the rigid expectations of womanhood.

The talk runs from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in 1219 Cathedral of Learning.

2024 Spring Japanese Film Series at Maridon Museum begins February 23, with After Life (ワンダフルライフ) , Hula Girls (フラガール), Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫), and Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓).

The Maridon Museum, a museum of Asian art in Butler, will present a 2024 Spring Japanese Film Series from February 23, featuring four Japanese films over the course of two months.

After Life (ワンダフルライフ) - February 23. Presented by Dr. William Covey.
A mid-20th Century social service structure serves as a way station between life and death. Every Monday, deceased individuals check in and social workers prompt them to select a single memory to carry into the afterlife. They have only a few days to choose their happiest memory, which is then designed, staged, and filmed by the workers. This allows souls to relive this moment for eternity, forgetting the rest of their lives and residing within their happiest memory.

Hula Girls (フラガール) - March 21. Presented by Yukako Ishimaru.
In an effort to reverse their economic fortunes, the elders of a small Japanese coal-mining town hire Madoka to create a Hawaiian center tourist attraction. Madoka recruits and trains hula dancers, including Sayuri and Kimiko. With encouragement from Kimiko’s brother Yojiro, Madoka redoubles her efforts to make things work.

Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) - April 12. Presnted by Misaki Okita.
In the 14th Century, the harmony among humans, animals, and gods started to crumble. Infected by an animal attack, the protagonist, young Ashitaka, seeks a cure from the deer-like god Shishigami. During his journey, he witnesses humans ravaging the Earth, angering the wolf god Moro and Princess Mononoke, his human companion. Ashitaka’s efforts to mediate peace among them resulted in conflict.

Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓) - April 26. Presented by Misaki Okita.
A poignant reflection on the human toll of war, this animated story tracks Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi), a teen responsible for his younger sister, Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), following an American firebombing in WWII that separates them from their parents. Their survival story is both heartbreaking and realistic, as they depend on each other and fight against all odds to remain united and alive.

The movies are free and open to the public, but registration is required and can be made by calling 724.282.0123. The Maridon Museum is located at 322 North Mckean St. in Butler (map).

2006 Satoshi Kon film Paprika (パプリカ) in Pittsburgh, February 7, 8, 11.

The 2006 Japanese animated film Paprika (パプリカ) will play in PIttsburgh from February 7, 8, and 11, the final installment of the Satoshi Kon Fest that's been running the last few months.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents the last film ever made by visionary director Satoshi Kon with his mind-bending thriller PAPRIKA, which has been restored in 4K for the first ever. When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

It plays locally at the AMc Lowes Waterfront and the Cinemark Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか) remains in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) January 31.

The 2023 Hayao Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか), which opened across Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 7, will remain here through (at least) January 31. A synopsis of the movie, from the distributor:

Hayao Miyazaki's first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki's long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film "Spinning Globe" was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

. . .

A young boy named Mahito
yearning for his mother
ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.
There, death comes to an end,
and life finds a new beginning.


A semi-autobiographical fantasy
about life, death, and creation,
 in tribute to friendship,
from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Tickets are available online for shows at the the AMC Loews Waterfront. Please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.

Atomic Cinema: GODZILLA (1954) with Alternate Histories, January 23 at Bottlerocket Social Hall.

Bottlerocket Social Hall and Alternate Histories will present Atomic Cinema: GODZILLA (1954) on January 23.

ATOMIC CINEMA brings a screening of the original GODZILLA to Bottlerocket! A free night with games and drinks hosted by ALTERNATE HISTORIES and Pittsburgh's own YINZILLA!

The event starts at 7:30 pm and is free, but online registration is required. Bottlerocket Social Hall is located at 1226 Arlington Ave. in Allentown (map).

Ecology, Society, and Imagination in Oyamada Hiroki's The Factory and the Hole, February 7 14 at Pitt.

University of Pittsburgh Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures Master's student Hayley Gerlach will present Ecology, Society, and Imagination in Oyamada Hiroki's The Factory and the Hole on February 7 14 (the talk has been rescheduled).

Two of Oyamada Hiroko's best-known works are her proletariat debut novella The Factory and her Akutagawa-prize winning novella The Hole. Scholars are only beginning ot shift their focus to Oyamada, and as of yet, litte scholarsly work has been dedicated to analyzing the animals that are characteristic of her writing. In my thesis, I examine the liminal space between human and nonhuman wolrds in Oyamada's speculative fiction and what these spaces say about societal and environmental responsibility. First, I examine The Factory from an ecocritical perspective. I discuss how Oyamada's factory functions as a capitalsist 'ecosystem,' and how the animals on its periphery contribute to and disrupt this ecosystem. I argue that the animals illuminate the human and nonhuman costs of capitalism, while also offering opportunities for resistance. Next, I discuss animals in The Hole. Reminiscent of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the protagonist falls into a hole before encountering a cast of strange characters that lead her to question her own existence. I argue that the wild animals and insects in the rural ecosystem present a fluid and chaotic form of existence that offer an alternative to Asahi's static domestic life and the rigid expectations of womanhood.

The talk runs from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in 1219 Cathedral of Learning.

Black-and-white version Godzilla Minus One Minus Color in Pittsburgh, from January 25.

Godzilla Minus One Minus Color, the black-and-white version of the latest Godzilla film Godzilla Minus One (ゴジラ-1.0), will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters for one week starting January 25. The official Godzilla site writes:

"Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color is not just a simple black and white version," [Director, Screenwriter, and Visual Effects Supervisor Takahashi] Yamazki said, "The colorist took the care and the time to go through a careful and very complex process. The black-and-white images make Godzilla look very realistic and documentary-like, which leads to even more fear. Even we have seen Godzilla many times, but we felt that something completely different appeared there. It is very scary. So this is not only for those who liked Godzilla Minus One but also those who are seeing it for the first time. They should definitely see this black-and-white version. Especially the scene at the beginning where Godzilla appears in the night - it is so terrifying that it made my knees shake!"

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic South Hills, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, AMC Classic South Pike in Sarver, and the Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Godzilla Minus One (ゴジラ-1.0) to remain in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) January 24.

The latest Godzilla movie, Godzilla Minus One (ゴジラ-1.0), which opened in Pittsburgh on November 30, will remain in local theaters through at least January 24.

Japan, devastated after the war, faces a new threat in the form of Godzilla. How will the country confront this impossible situation?

It plays locally in Japanese with English subtitles at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか) remains in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) January 25.

The 2023 Hayao Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか), which opened across Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 7, will remain here through (at least) January 25. A synopsis of the movie, from the distributor:

Hayao Miyazaki's first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki's long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film "Spinning Globe" was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

. . .

A young boy named Mahito
yearning for his mother
ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.
There, death comes to an end,
and life finds a new beginning.


A semi-autobiographical fantasy
about life, death, and creation,
 in tribute to friendship,
from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Tickets are available online for shows at the Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 (the AMC Loews Waterfront is temporarily closed). Please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.

2009 Japanese animated movie GURREN LAGANN THE MOVIE: The Lights in the Sky are Stars- in Pittsburgh, January 23 and 24.

The 2009 Japanese animated movie GURREN LAGANN THE MOVIE: The Lights in the Sky are Stars will play in Pittsburgh on January 23 and 24, a week after the first installment of the Gurren Lagann series played here.

Seven Years have passed since the battle of Teepelin…

Humans have successfully rebuilt civilization under Simon’s leadership and enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity. However, humanity’s increasing population triggers the emergence of a powerful enemy. This fearsome Anti-Spiral proves too overwhelming for humanity to fight back. In these desperate times, the members of Team Dai-Gurren reunite to fight once again. In this high-stakes battle, can Simon and his team pierce the heavens with the Gurren Lagann to save mankind one last time?

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.