Work progresses on Sokoya, a Japanese izakaya coming to East Liberty.

Work progresses on Sokoya, a Japanese izakaya coming soon to East Liberty. It will be located at at 135 S. Highland Ave. (map), where Patron was until November 2025. We first covered the space in February, when paperwork referred to its sushi bar.

1954 movie Godzilla (ゴジラ) at Row House Hollywood, November 1, 4, and 5.

The 1954 movie Godzilla (ゴジラ) will return to Pittsburgh from November 1, ahead of the debut of the latest in the franchise Godzilla Minus Zero (ゴジラ-0.0) playing in the area from November 5.

Before Godzilla fought Kong or Mothra in 4K, he rose out of the sea and changed sci-fi films forever as an allegory for the follies of a nuclear world. We’re showing the very first film in the iconic franchise. See Ishirô Honda’s original smash hit classic that brought to life the unstoppable dinosaur-like creature hell-bent on destroying Tokyo.

It plays at the Row House Hollywood theater in Dormont November 1, 4, and 5, and tickets are available online. The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station.

1985 Japanese film Tampopo (タンポポ) at Row House Hollywood, from November 20.

The 1985 Japanese film Tampopo (タンポポ) will play at the Row House Hollywood on November 20, 22, and 25.

This humorous and endearing ‘Japanese Noodle Western’ is and ode to the joys of food. When a pair of truck drivers happen onto a decrepit roadside shop selling ramen noodles, the widowed owner begs them to help her turn her establishment into a paragon of the “art of noodle-soup making.”

Tickets are available online. The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station.

Freshworks: lys scott, November 6 and 7 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

The Kelly Strayhorn Theater will present "Freshworks: lys scott" on November 6 and 7.

Growing up in a small town, lys scott (she/they) discovered that living authentically sometimes meant being called the “Crazy Girl.” As a first-generation LGBTQIA+ Thai American artist, lys brings their fearless storytelling and multidisciplinary performance style together in chronicles of a crazy girl. This performance in progress invites audiences inside lys’s inner world – a whimsical, nonlinear journey exploring the liberation of individuality, sexuality, and relationships with their immigrant family.  

Embracing musical spontaneity, theatrical performance, and media design, each scene reveals a new layer of their emotions, rooted in identity, resilience, and self-discovery.

Shows run from 7:30 to 9:00 pm both nights, including a post-show discussion, and tickets are available online. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater is located at 5941 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map). 

Ebisu Life Store Grand Opening in Cranberry scheduled for November 14; soft opening date TBA.

The Pittsburgh area's second Ebisu Life Store will hold its Grand Opening on November 14, according to an Instagram post yesterday that has some video clips of the massive space. It will be located in Cranberry Township, at 20217 Route 19 Suite 203 in a former Party City in a strip mall near the Walmart at the intersection of Route 19 and Old Freedom Rd. Ebisu Japanese Life Store is a Chinese chain specializing in Japanese goods, with its stores featuring cosmetics, snacks, homegoods, stationary, gacha machines, plushes, models, collectibles, Pokemon cards, and more. It opened its first area location in Squirrel Hill in October 2024.

Pittsburgh Taiko Beginner Classes, November 15, 22, December 6, 13.

Pittsburgh Taiko will hold its next installment of Beginner Classes from November 15.

Learn taiko drumming with Pittsburgh Taiko!

On Sunday mornings starting November 15, Pittsburgh Taiko will hold a four-week introductory class. This class is for people who are interested in joining our performing group or anyone who wants to just give taiko a try.

Taiko combines energetic hits with calm focus, balances group unity with individual expression, and requires both power and subtlety.

Each class is from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at our studio in Bellevue.

Dates and times for the four-week course:

Class 1: Sunday, November 15, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Class 2: Sunday, November 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Class 3: Sunday, December 6, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Class 4: Sunday, December 13, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
No experience is necessary! If you recently took one of our workshops, this will be a more in-depth study of some of the topics we introduced there.

These classes are designed for adults and older kids (high school or older). Discounted rates are available for full-time students and JASP members.

Note that our studio is a masked space, and unfortunately it is not accessible to folks who can't climb stairs.

A set of frequently-asked questions are answered on the Pittsburgh Taiko website. The cost is $40 for high school students, college students, and Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania members, and $50 for the general public, and registration is completed online.

2006 Korean monster movie The Host (괴물) in Pittsburgh, November 21 and 23.

The 2006 Korean monster movie The Host (괴물) will play in Pittsburgh on November 21 and 23.

Careless American military personnel dump chemicals into South Korea's Han River. Several years later, a creature emerges from the tainted waters and sinks its ravenous jaws into local residents. It abducts Hyun-seo (A-sung Ko) the daughter of Kang-du (Kang-ho Song), who works at a food-stand on the banks of the river. The government announces that the monstrous thing is the Host of an unidentified virus. Having feared the worst, Kang-du receives a phone call from his daughter who is frightened, but very much alive. Kang-du soon makes plans to infiltrate the forbidden zone near the Han River to rescue his daughter.

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

1989 Japanese animated movie Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) at Rangos Giant Cinema, December 28.

The 1989 Japanese animated movie Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) will play at the Rangos Giant Cinema on December 28.

Being able to fly isn’t always easy. Sometimes you need to take long walks and look at the scenery. Teenage witch Kiki leaves home for the traditional year of independence to practice her craft. The change is harder than expected but with help from her new friends, her community, and the discovery of her inner strength, Kiki discovers she’s more capable than she knew. Join us on Mon., Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. for “Kiki’s Delivery Service.”

The show starts at 7:00 pm and tickets are available online. The Kamin Science Center, formerly known as the Carnegie Science Center, is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Concerts from TXT, Enhypen, SEVENTEEN, BTS in Pittsburgh, from October 24 for HyBe CINEFEST.

Several concert films from Korean pop groups will be in Pittsburgh-area theaters from October 24 through 31 as part of an HyBe CINEFEST series of movies.

• October 24 - 31 - HYBE Cheering Party 
• October 24, 25 - BTS ARIRANG in Buenos Aires: Live Viewing
• October 24, 29, 30 - TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR 'ACT : TOMORROW'
• October 25, 27, 28 - ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR 'BLOOD SAGA' 
• October 26, 28, 31 - SEVENTEEN World Tour New_
• October 30, 31 - BTS ARIRANG in Sao Paolo: Live Viewing

Tickets are available online.

Candlelight: The Best of Joe Hisaishi, November 8 at Omni William Penn Hotel.

The Omni William Penn Hotel will host a Candlelight Concert: The Best of Joe Hisaishi on November 8.

Rediscover the moving soundscapes of Joe Hisaishi, whose unforgettable compositions have brought some of cinema's most beloved stories to life. Hear melodies from Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and more by the warm glow of Candlelight.

This concert experience is a tribute. It is not associated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the artist, their heirs or their official representatives.

Programme: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - Kaze no Tani, Laputa: Castle in the Sky - Kimi wo Nosete, My Neighbour Totoro - Kaze no Toori Michi, My Neighbour Totoro - Main Theme, Kiki's Delivery Service - Umi no Mieru Machi, Princess Mononoke - Main Theme, Spirited Away - Inochi no Namae, Spirited Away - Chihiro's Waltz, The Tale of Princess Kaguya - When I Remember This Life, Ponyo - Gake no Ue no Ponyo, The Wind Rises - A Journey (A Dream of Flight), Howl's Moving Castle - Merry Go Round of Life.

Performed live by Listeso String Quartet (string quartet).

The concert starts at 8:45 pm and tickets are available online. The hotel is located at 530 William Penn Place downtown (map). 

New 4K restoration of 2016 Korean film Train to Busan (부산행) in Pittsburgh, from October 23.

A new 4K restoration of 2016 Korean film Train to Busan (부산행) will play in Pittsburgh from October 23.

NEW 4K RESTORATION

Yeon Sang-ho’s high-speed take on the zombie genre is everything horror should be — smart, exciting, and wildly creative in its morbidity. When a zombie outbreak seizes South Korea, the passengers on a high-speed train to Busan fight to survive.

MegaScreen Showtimes:
Friday, October 23 – 9:30 pm
Wednesday, October 28 – 2 pm
Thursday, October 29 – 5 pm
Saturday, October 31 – 4:15 pm

Underground Showtime: 
Saturday, October 24 – 4 pm
Friday, October 30 – 4:30 pm
Saturday, October 31 – 9:45 pm

It plays at the Row House Hollywood in Dormont (map) through October 31 and tickets are available online.

2026 Stephen Chow film Kung Fu Soccer (功夫女足) in Pittsburgh, from October 23.

The 2026 Stephen Chow film Kung Fu Soccer (功夫女足) will play in Pittsburgh frmo October 23. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Dismissed as underdogs before they even step onto the pitch, the Emei Women’s Football Team enters the prestigious “Supreme Invincible Cup” determined to prove everyone wrong. Led by captain Shuangshuang, star striker Yulong, and mentor Xu Feng, the team combines martial arts mastery with football skill in a thrilling quest for victory. Against mounting challenges and impossible odds, they fight to make their mark and chase their championship dream.

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

Opening reception for "JADED: Remind Me, My Dream" October 23; exhibition runs through December 18.

The opening reception for "JADED: Remind Me, My Dream" at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater will be held on October 23.

Seventeen AAPI artists from JADED use the creative process to explore layered identities and stories, while making space for dreams, grief, and connection. Through painting, sculpture, sound, film, wood, glass, and textiles, the artists reflect on messages held in their bodies, personal histories, and memories. 

The exhibition’s opening reception includes a Kintsugi Grief Bowls workshop with artist Kiyomi Knox, which uses the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold to symbolize the beauty that can exist in brokenness. Performing artist Arieux meditates on death, loss, and grief with a procession inspired by the ancient Chinese profession of corpse walkers.

---

Remind Me, My Dream features works by Arieux, Anne Chen, Shimul Chowdhury, Sara Dtantirojanarat, Eriko Hattori, Sarah Khadraoui, Kiyomi Knox, Jules Lee, Justin Lin, Arthur Lindsay, Brent Nakamoto, Quartz/Court, Kimberly Rooney 高小荣, SEONI, Becky Sungja Kim, Zim Syed, and Zoyakeko. Led by women and non-binary artists, JADED is Pittsburgh’s first AAPI artist collective celebrating AAPI art & culture in Pittsburgh.

Remind Me, My Dream is curated by Sara Tang in partnership with JADED and commissioned by KST in conjunction with Maree ReMalia’s WITH OURSELVES, WITH EACH OTHER.

Photo Credit: Justin Lin

The opening reception runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and tickets are available online. The exhibition will run through December 18. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater is located at 5941 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map). 

Maree ReMalia: WITH OURSELVES, WITH EACH OTHER, October 23 and 24 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

The Kelly Strayhorn Theater will present "Maree ReMalia: WITH OURSELVES, WITH EACH OTHER" on October 23 and 24.

What happens when karaoke becomes a way to express grief, memory, and joy?

Set in a “karaoke-funeral-lounge”, WOWEO follows Korean adoptee and ballerina-turned-experimental dance-maker Maree ReMalia as she navigates the grief of losing a parent who raised her and the absence of a parent she never met. Blending dance, storytelling, and pop music, this solo performance explores the longing to understand where we come from. It honors both the pain of early separation and the deep bonds we form with family beyond blood ties.

Sing, laugh, and journey with us as WOWEO asks: How can we hold grief and memory while still making room for joy, connection, and new ways forward?

Audience will be seated on stage. Late entry and re-entry will not be permitted for this production. 

*with post-show discussion
⁺ with ASL interpretation
^ karaoke afterparty with Liana Maneese

Photo Credit: Kitoko Chargois

The shows are 7:30 pm on Friday the 23rd and 2:30 and 7:30 pm on Saturday the 24th. Tickets are available online. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater is located at 5941 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map).  

Mei Semones performing in Pittsburgh, May 8, 2027.

Mei Semones will perform in Pittsburgh on May 8, 2027.

At 26, the Brooklyn-based Japanese American guitarist and singer-songwriter — already named an Artist to Watch by The New York Times and Stereogum, and Artist You Need to Know byRolling Stone and The FADER — has developed a sound that brings together jazz, bossa nova, samba and grungy math rock without treating any of them as separate worlds. Her bilingual songwriting works in much the same way. Few songwriters weave between languages as naturally as Semones does, slipping between English and Japanese within the same song —sometimes the same line — and letting both languages become part of the music itself. As she puts it, writing in both languages “felt more true to myself.”

A fuller biography is available on her website. Doors for the all-ages show at Spirit open at 7:00 pm and the show starts at 8:00. Tickets are available online. Spirit is located at 242 51st St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to present "Distant Worlds: Music from FINAL FANTASY," July 31, 2027.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will perform "Distant Worlds: Music from FINAL FANTASY" on July 31, 2027.

FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY – Eternal

Were you there forty years ago when the “Prelude” played for the first time? Were you there thirty years ago when “Opening - Bombing Mission” first brought players to Midgar? Whether your adventures started in Cornelia, Eorzea, Valisthea, or elsewhere, we invite you and your fellow warriors of light to continue your journey with this new concert series.

Our special 40th anniversary program celebrates the enduring music of Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yoko Shimomura, and Masayoshi Soken, brought to life by a full orchestra and chorus and conducted by Maestro Arnie Roth. HD videos created by SQUARE ENIX accompany the music, celebrating four decades of FINAL FANTASY and the evolution of video game technology.

The event starts at 7:30 pm at Heinz Hall in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online.  

Concert film EXO PLANET #6 – ExhOrizon [dot] IN CINEMAS in Pittsburgh, November 8.

The upcoming concert film EXO PLANET #6 – ExhOrizon [dot] IN CINEMAS will play in Pittsburgh on November 8.

EXhOrizon [dot] is coming to the big screen! EXO-L, wherever you are—let’s meet at the cinema. 🌍✨ Feel every beat, catch every detail, and share every fan chant as EXO’s powerful performances and spectacular stage production come to life with cinema sound. Gather your fellow EXO-L and join fans around the world for the final chapter of EXO PLANET #6. One stage. A world of EXO-L. One unforgettable experience.

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

2001 Japanese animated film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) in Pittsburgh, October 17 - 21.

The 2001 Japanese animated film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play in Pittsburgh from October 17 through 21, part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2026. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki‘s wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation.

Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time.

It plays locally at many local theaters, including the AMC Loews Waterfront, the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, the GQT Pittsburgh Mills, and the Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 + PTX. Tickets are available online. 

Author Min Jin Lee returns to Pittsburgh November 16 for Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures series.

Author Min Jin Lee will return to Pittsburgh on November 16 as part of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Ten Evenings lecture series.

At last, the National Book Award finalist and NYT bestselling author of Pachinko returns with a breathtaking contemporary epic: Min Jin Lee has written a masterpiece by turns sweeping and intimate, one that reckons with ambition and moderation, lust and loyalty, personal dreams and familial loyalty.

In schools and churches, hotel rooms and nail salons, law firms and fried-fish shops; in cramped, dingy apartments and luxury, gated communities, the men, women, and children in American Hagwon struggle to find satisfaction and meaning in a world that seems to grow less forgiving with each passing year.

Stray Kids World Tour 'RUN IT' Live Viewing in Pittsburgh, November 7.

An upcoming concert film Stray Kids World Tour 'RUN IT' live viewing will be held in Pittsburgh on November 7.

For the first time, Stray Kids presents a special live broadcast of ‘Stray Kids World Tour ’ from Tokyo Dome in movie theaters around the globe. True to the tour's title, captures the group's drive to push into bigger worlds and bolder stages. The eight members (Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, HAN, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N) pour out unrelenting energy through explosive choreography and powerhouse vocals, elevating the live experience to its peak. Their stage begins with “Hall of Fame,” a track that expresses Stray Kids’ ambition to write their own history, tracing their musical growth from the very beginning to where they are now. The production is enriched further by dynamic stage setups, traditional Korean performance touches, and spectacular laser lighting, designed to bring the crowd — in the dome and at the cinema — to their feet, singing, dancing and celebrating together.

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