Taiko drummer Takumi Kato and his three sons will perform at the University of Pittsburgh on December 7, part of the Cathedral of Learning's annual Nationality Rooms Holiday Open House. The performance runs from 12:15 to 12:45, and the event is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Takumi Kato and his family of taiko drummers, December 7 at Pitt as part of Nationality Rooms Holiday Open House.
Taiko drummer Takumi Kato and his three sons will perform at the University of Pittsburgh on December 7, part of the Cathedral of Learning's annual Nationality Rooms Holiday Open House. The performance runs from 12:15 to 12:45, and the event is free and open to the public.
Monday, December 1, 2025
Lyu Kexin and "Remediated Handscrolls: Chinese Photography as Institutional Critique," December 3 at Pitt.

From The Night Revels of Lao Li.
This presentation examines how contemporary Chinese artists transform the traditional handscroll format into a site of remediation within global art institutions. It analyzes specific works: Wang Qingsong’s The Night Revels of Lao Li (2000) transforms the handscroll into a monumental public spectacle, subverting its private viewing ritual. Hong Lei’s vitrine-displayed scroll, I dreamt of being killed by my father…(2000), fuses Daoist symbolism with psychoanalysis to process memory. Chen Chieh-jen’s mechanized Star Chart (2017) employs automated scrolling to critique capitalist discipline and technological surveillance. Drawing on media theory’s concept of remediation, I argue that these practices not only revive the handscroll’s narrative temporality but also expose the tensions between Chinese aesthetic traditions and Western institutional frameworks. By turning the handscroll into a site of cross-cultural translation, these artists reveal how visual media negotiate between tradition and modernity, intimacy and spectacle, and local and global systems of meaning. This project illuminates how Chinese contemporary art challenges Western-centric paradigms and offers new ways to understand cultural exchange and representation in an age of global visual circulation.It takes place from 12:00 to 12:50 pm in 202 Frick Fine Arts in Oakland (map).
Fujiya Ramen to soft open its new North Fayette location December 6.

Fujiya Ramen announced on social media today it will soft open its new North Fayette / Robinson location on December 6.
After months of hard work, we’re finally ready!
Fujiya Ramen North Fayette will begin its soft opening on December 6th! đ
From our 15-hours homemade broth to every detail in our new space, everything is prepared with heart ❤️
We can’t wait to welcome you, your family, and your friends.
đ 210 McHolme Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15275
đ Soft Opening — Dec 6, 2025
Thank you for supporting a local, family-run restaurant. ❤️
Jay Som performing in Pittsburgh, December 12.

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jay Som will perform in Pittsburgh on December 12.
WHERE, YOU ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY ASKING, HAS JAY SOM BEEN? …six years ago, in 2019, Melina Duterte released Anak Ko, the expansive third album from the project that had quickly grown far beyond its so-called bedroom pop origins into something resembling an actual band. But when a shuttered touring industry scrapped Jay Som’s ambitious 2020 plans, Duterte realized she had long needed a reset from the road after several years of constant pivots between touring and writing. She decided to splurge on herself and her lifelong interest in recording, funneling her government stimulus check into a piece of dream gear—a vintage Neve console. She committed herself to manuals and online tutorials. Five years later, a Grammy for her work on The Record by boygenius, the band she subsequently joined as a touring member. Yes, Jay Som itself has been on a bit of a break; Duterte, however, has perhaps been busier than ever.Jay Som will perform at Spirit Lounge, 242 51st St in Lawrenceville (map). TIckets for the 21+ show are now available online.
When Duterte reckoned the time had come to revisit Jay Som, she did not pretend to be hidebound by the project’s past. Instead, she let the half-decade of life she’d lived and work she’d done since releasing Anak Ko filter not only into her songs but also her process. But she also opened up her music to herself and her memories, writing songs that revisited the sounds of her youth with the benefit of her experiences as a musician, producer, and performer. She was neither shy about her influences nor limited about where they might lead her. And so no previous Jay Som album sounds quite like the new Belong, a gripping 11-song set about self-definition and, well, belonging, that floats between supercharged power-pop hits and hazy ballads, between electronic curiosities and lighters-up anthems. It is a map of the first 31 years of Duterte’s life, all leading to the present that is Belong.
1949 Japanese film Late Spring (ćŠćĽ) in Pittsburgh, from December 6.

The 1949 Japanese film Late Spring (ćŠćĽ) will play at the Row House Lawrenceville from December 6 through 11, part of the theater's Slice of Life series.
In this moving family drama from Yasugiro Ozo, Noriko is perfectly happy living at home with her widowed father and has no plans to marry – that is, until her aunt Masa convinces her father that unless he marries off his 27-year-old daughter soon, she will likely remain alone for the rest of her life. When Noriko resists Masa’s matchmaking, Shukichi is forced to deceive his daughter and sacrifice his own happiness to do what he believes is right.Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Self Chef, featuring Mongolian stir-fry and sushi, coming soon to Castle Shannon in former Linden Grove spot.

Self Chef, offering Mongolian stir-fry and sushi, is coming soon to Castle Shannon in the former Linden Grove spot. Its arrival was rumored for months, but signage visible from the T light rail line recently went up. It will be located at 1100 Grove Road (map).
Friday, November 28, 2025
"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from December 6.
Photo via the Korea Tourism Organization.The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from December 6 through February 28, after finishing its most recent session on November 15. From the class Facebook group:
We’re excited to kick off the winter cycle starting December 6th!
Here is the full class schedule:Class Dates
December: 6th, 13th January: 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st February: 7th, 14th, 21st, 28thAll classes will be held at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland – Classroom A.Class Levels & Times
Advanced: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Intermediate: 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Beginner: 12:45 PM – 1:30 PMLooking forward to seeing you all in the winter session!
Registration links might be available on the library's website ahead of the first weekend. The Oakland branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by numerous city bus lines.
Concert film MONSTA X : CONNECT X IN CINEMAS in Pittsburgh, December 3 and 7.

The concert film MONSTA X : CONNECT X IN CINEMAS, with Korean pop group Monsta X, will play in Pittsburgh on December 3 and 7.
In July 2025, MONSTA X set the KSPO DOME ablaze over three unforgettable days with their show 2025 MONSTA X CONNECT X. From the powerful live band session and a setlist packed with spectacular performances, to never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage of the preparation process, and exclusive, heartfelt interviews where the members reflect on their intense 10-year journey — this film captures it all. A chronicle of a decade-long story written together by MONSTA X and MONBEBE.It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.
Thursday, November 27, 2025
2025 compilation film JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution (ĺĺ ´ç ĺŞčĄĺťťćŚ「ć¸č°ˇäşĺ¤ çšĺĽçˇ¨éç」×「ćťćť ĺ游 ĺ čĄä¸ć 」) in Pittsburgh, from December 4.

The 2025 compilation film JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution (ĺĺ ´ç ĺŞčĄĺťťćŚ「ć¸č°ˇäşĺ¤ çšĺĽçˇ¨éç」×「ćťćť ĺ游 ĺ čĄä¸ć 」) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from December 4.
A veil abruptly descends over the busy Shibuya area amid the bustling Halloween crowds, trapping countless civilians inside. Satoru Gojo, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, steps into the chaos. But lying in wait are curse users and spirits scheming to seal him away. Yuji Itadori, accompanied by his classmates and other top-tier jujutsu sorcerers, enters the fray in an unprecedented clash of curses — the Shibuya Incident. In the aftermath, ten colonies across Japan are transformed into dens of curses in a plan orchestrated by Noritoshi Kamo, the most wicked sorcerer in history. As the deadly Culling Game starts, Special Grade sorcerer Yuta Okkotsu is assigned to carry out Yuji’s execution for his perceived crimes. The desperate confrontation between Satoru Gojo’s two beloved students comes to the big screen with an early preview. Be the first to experience Yuji and Yuta’s fateful battle with the hotly anticipated kickoff to Season 3 in theatres nationwide.It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Loews Westmoreland in Greensburg, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Paris Baguette coming pretty soon to Shadyside after two years of work, now eyes mid-December opening.

Work is rapidly progressing on the Shadyside Paris Baguette, and it's now aiming for a mid-December opening. Some background, back when it was aiming for this month, from the Tribune Review:
[Owner] Zafar said customers can can expect larger menu from the new Shadyside location.It was first announced for Walnut Street in January 2024, back before the region's first Paris Baguette opened in the Norh Hills. The Shadyside location will be located at 5514 Walnut St., in what was William Sonoma until January 2022. In 2024, the year both locations were set to open in Pittsburgh, the franchisee announced plans to open five Paris Baguette cafes in the area.
”Whether it be some personal favorites from the community … anything the community wants from us will actually happily make for them we just need to test that on the market,” he said.
Some of the special items Zafar has on the menu include: Asian sweet rice doughnuts, mango coconut cake and potato bread. Zafar aims to have eight bakers on his staff, who will make this items fresh each morning.
The inside of the building will have a glass dome display case to show off the baked goods, penny tile and an exposed wooden ceiling, he said.
Ting Tong Chang (埾碊尚) The Hidden Shift on exhibit at Mattress Factory through January 3, 2027.

Ting Tong Chang's The Hidden Shift, which opened at the Mattress Factory on November 22, will remain on exhibit at the Mattress Factory through January 3, 2027.
In the summer of 2024, Ting Tong Chang spent the better part of a week exploring Pittsburgh, during which time he learned of the pivotal role the region played in the history of organized labor. He was particularly struck by the 1892 Homestead Strike — a violent confrontation between workers and Henry Clay Frick’s Pinkerton agents – and the extreme power imbalances it highlighted. Drawing inspiration from these events, as well as from the Mattress Factory’s own layered history of industrial and cultural production, the Taiwanese-born artist worked alongside local filmmakers Alex Abrahams and Benny Shaffer to create a story that would weave these threads together. The resulting work is a murder mystery film set in a fictional macaroni factory, where the factory owner is found dead and each character carries their own potential motives and suspicions.The museum is located at at 500 Sampsonia Way, in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood of the North Side (map).
This film noir–inspired work began as a three-act play. Here it becomes juxtaposed with a documentary style “making of” film. It is both a film and a film about the making of that film.
This cinematic device is further complicated by the casting of museum staff as the film’s actors. What emerges is not just a behind-the-scenes look into the creative process but an intimate portrait of daily museum life. Alongside cast rehearsals and set building, we see staff using the copy machine, greeting visitors, and cracking jokes at a morning meeting. The result is a twisting metanarrative that dissolves the boundaries between art and labor, performance and production. Through its structure and story, The Hidden Shift invites viewers to grapple with complex questions surrounding capitalism, the meaning of work, and the precarity of the so-called ‘creative class.’
This blending of reality and fiction extends beyond the screen, unfolding further within the exhibition space. Here, visitors encounter remnants of the film set – hand painted backdrops, leftover props, and dramatic lighting. By positioning the audience within the physical traces of the film’s production, Chang creates a bodily experience that unsettles our sense of what is real and what is constructed. We find ourselves unwittingly stepping onto a stage that slowly reveals itself.
At the climax of the film, the two juxtaposed narratives begin collapsing into each other. Staff are shown in costume walking through the museum. Fictional characters break the fourth wall. A boom mic operator slips into frame. This self-awareness and subtle humor is common in Chang’s work, where drama and satire merge, offering a lens to help us understand our complex past as we confront an uncertain future.
2025 Park Chan-wook film No Other Choice (ě´ěŠěę°ěë¤) in Pittsburgh, December 8.

The 2025 Park Chan-wook film No Other Choice (ě´ěŠěę°ěë¤) will play in Pittsburgh on December 8, part of an IMAX Early Access Screening.
From director Park Chan-wook and based on Donald E. Westlake's novel THE AX, the story follows Man-su on his desperate hunt for a new job after his abrupt layoff from the paper company he served for 25 years.It is scheduled to play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
2025 Japanese animated movie Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (ĺĺ ´ç ăă§ăłă˝ăźăăł ăŹăźçŻ) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) December 3.

The 2025 Japanese animated movie Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (ĺĺ ´ç ăă§ăłă˝ăźăăł ăŹăźçŻ) which opened in Pittsburgh on October 23, will remain here through (at least) December 3.
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.It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Concert film SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [NEW_] IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, November 29.

The upcoming concert film SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [NEW_] IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on November 29.
Celebrating their 10th anniversary, SEVENTEEN embarks on a monumental new journey with their world tour [NEW_], symbolizing a fresh start and endless possibilities ahead. Known as a performance powerhouse, SEVENTEEN delivers dynamic stages, reimagined choreography, and solo performances that spotlight each member’s growth and artistry. From Incheon to North America and across Asia, the journey culminates in the Nagoya concert, broadcast live to cinemas worldwide on November 29. Experience SEVENTEEN’s passion, unity, and energy; on the big screen, together with fans around the world.It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets for the two shows that day are available online.
Saturday, November 22, 2025
2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala (大ĺšĺ šĺ Ąĺ°ĺşéŠŹĺš´ćĽčćäź), February 7 at Pittsburgh Playhouse.

The 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala (大ĺšĺ šĺ Ąĺ°ĺşéŠŹĺš´ćĽčćäź) will be held February 7 at Pittsburgh Playhouse.
The 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala, presented by the Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center (PCCC), will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, PNC Theater. Free cultural activities open to the public will begin at 4:00 PM, followed by the main performances at 6:00 PM.As the largest and most influential Lunar New Year celebration in the Greater Pittsburgh region, the Gala brings together leaders and audiences from government, universities, corporations, and communities, serving as a key platform for cultural celebration and cross-cultural connection.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Ebara Elliott Energy in Jeannette hiring HR Representative (Fluent in Japanese).

Ebara Elliott Energy is hiring an HR Representative bilingual in English and Japanese. The job ad, via the Japan America Society of Pennsylvania newsletter:
Overview & Responsibilities
HR Professional with 3-5 years of prior human resources experience to drive cross-border HR initiatives between our US and Japan teams. This role combines full-cycle HR generalist support, project management, cross-border project leadership, confidential data handling, and cultural/policy advocacy in a fast-paced, global environment.
Key Responsibilities
Bilingual Communication & Collaboration
Serve as the primary HR liaison between US headquarters and the Japan HR team.
Conduct meetings, draft correspondence, and translate HR policies, announcements, training materials, executive communications, and other documents in fluent English and Japanese, ensuring cultural nuance.
Ensure US practices align with Tokyo HQ governance, ethics codes, and reporting calendars.
Partner with Japan HR on employment matters (onboarding, performance management, terminations, benefits alignment).
YangGuoFu Mala Tang coming to Squirrel Hill.
Photo courtesy of reader.Signage is up on Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill for YangGuoFu Mala Tang, a chain of Chinese restaurants with locations in California, Washington, New York, and several other states.
Indulge in the perfect blend of fresh ingredients and bold flavors, combined to create a dining experience that transcends the ordinary. Our Mala Tang offerings are carefully crafted for those seeking a healthy yet delicious meal option.It will be located at 5870 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Evelyn James Interiors.
2019 Chinese film The Wild Goose Lake (ĺćščťçŤçčć) in Pittsburgh, December 13-15, part of "Lost Films of COVID" series.

The 2019 Chinese film The Wild Goose Lake (ĺćščťçŤçčć) will play in Pittsburgh December 13 through 15, part of "Lost Films of COVID" series.
From acclaimed director Diao Yinan, The Wild Goose Lake is the stunning follow-up to his 2014 Berlinale winning neo-noir Black Coal, Thin Ice. Toppling box office records in Diao’s native China, The Wild Goose Lake “cements his status as a master filmmaker with another ingenious crime epic” (Little White Lies). When small-time mob leader Zhou Zenong (Chinese superstar Hu Ge) accidentally kills a cop, a dead-or-alive bounty is placed on his head, forcing him on the lam from both the police as well as dangerous gangsters out for the reward. Hiding out in China’s densely populated (and deeply divided) city of Wuhan, Zhou becomes entangled with a beautiful, enigmatic woman, who has mysterious intentions of her own. Featuring gorgeous, neon-drenched cinematography and bursts of shocking, expertly choreographed action, The Wild Goose Lake is “spellbinding” (Rolling Stone), “brilliant" (Indiewire), and “downright Hitchcockian” (AV Club).
It plays at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District and tickets are available online.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Upcoming film Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser and set in Tokyo, plays in Pittsburgh area from November 20.

The upcoming film Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser and set in Tokyo, will play in the Pittsburgh area from November 20.
Set in modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family" agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson and the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg from the 20th, and at the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill, AMC Loews Waterfront, and South Pike Cinemas from November 21. Tickets are available online.
2025 Japanese animated movie Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (ĺĺ ´ç ăă§ăłă˝ăźăăł ăŹăźçŻ) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) November 22.

The 2025 Japanese animated movie Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (ĺĺ ´ç ăă§ăłă˝ăźăăł ăŹăźçŻ) which opened in Pittsburgh on October 23, will remain here through (at least ) November 22.
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.It plays locally at many Pittsburgh-area theaters, including the Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 and AMC Westmorelandin Greensburg, and stays at the AMC Loews Waterfront from the 21st. Tickets are available online.
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