Tickets now available for 2020 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, from April 22.

The 2020 Japanese animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh from April 23. A synopsis of the top-grossing film in Japan last year, from the theaters:

Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!

It will play locally at several local theaters, including AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinemas, Cranberry Cinemas, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are now available online.

Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache online via Tull Family Theater, April 30.

The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley will present virtual screenings of Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache from April 30. From an April 8 New York Times review:

In Khyentse Norbu’s “Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache,” a Nepalese entrepreneur searches for spiritual enlightenment, hoping to avert a fatal prophecy. Looking to set up a new cafe, Tenzin (Tsering Tashi Gyalthang) sees unnerving visions after scouting an abandoned temple. With mounting fear, he follows the gnomic suggestions of a Buddhist monk in shades and a master sage, who insists that he find a goddess manifest on earth, known as a dakini.
The writer-director Norbu, a Buddhist spiritual leader making his fifth feature, presents Tenzin as a hip modern guy in bluejeans with a wide smile that vanishes as soon as he has to seek self-awareness. The cozy streets of Kathmandu become like a place without a map to Tenzin as he scans passing strangers for signs of divine femininity and leaves his business partners in the lurch. There’s a slight narrative echo of romantic comedy as the monk and the master sage feed him tips and ritual gestures, and it appears the woman he seeks could be right under his nose, in the form of a singer (Tenzin Kunsel) from his music lessons.

Tickets and showtime information is not yet available.

"Let's Take a Look at Vietnam's Education System," April 10 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Vietnamese Student Association will host "Let's Take a Look at Vietnam's Education System" on April 10.

Interested in learning about the education system in Vietnam? Now is your only chance!
This is our first time hosting an event in collaboration with Teach For Vietnam, a non-profit organization that is working towards removing education inequality and building sustainable systems for children in Vietnam.
We will be having a very SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: TRANG NGUYEN - THE CEO OF TEACH FOR VIETNAM. She will be presenting about:
1. What is the impact of COVID-19 on Vietnam's education?
2. What are the educational differences between the US and Vietnam, urban and rural areas?
3. Educational crisis that Vietnam is and Teach For Vietnam’s solutions
So please save the date and join with us on Saturday, April the 10th at 7:30 PM EST!

The event runs from 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Zoom and is free and open to the public.

CMU's annual Matsuri 2021, online April 9 - 10.

Carnegie Mellon University's Japanese Student Association presents a Matsuri ("festival") each spring, though this year's event has shifted online April 9 and 10, with a focus on supporting local Japanese businesses. From its Facebook page:

This year, JSA is launching a virtual Matsuri, with all kinds of opportunities to engage with Japanese music, film, food and games! This year, we're launching Matsuri to advocate for local Japanese businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Get ready for some authentic culture and fun!
Performances:
This year for Matsuri, we’ll be showcasing several performances, highlighting all kinds of traditional Japanese music, dance and literature. During our YouTube live stream, you’ll be able to see all of these featured artists and creators. These performances will feature centuries-old practice from Japan as well as other regions of the world. We hope you’ll join us!
Food:
This year, JSA is supporting local Japanese restaurants and stores affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can support your favorite local stores in two ways:
1. Order in food from restaurants like sushi fuku, fujiya ramen, and teppanyaki kyoto at a spicy discount price!
2. Buy care packages for yourself and your friends and pick it up at the UC.
Thank you for supporting your local stores and make sure to come to our other matsuri event as well!
Games:
Matsuri 2021 will feature both synchronous and asynchronous games that will allow participants to choose which type of games they want to join in. For the main synchronous session, we will be holding a virtual escape room, where participants will solve different puzzles as fast as possible for the prize! Across the duration of Matsuri, there will be new challenges posted at the start of the day and participants will submit video responses of the challenges to earn points, and the person with the most points at the end will win! There will also be shorter questions or brainteasers posted on social media for smaller prizes.

Visit each day's portal to access the online activities.

Duolingo hiring Curriculum Designer for Japanese.

Pittsburgh-based Duolingo is hiring a Curriculum Designer for Japanese.

We are looking for a world-class expert in teaching Japanese who has experience working across different educational settings and with learners from a variety of language backgrounds. Our ideal candidate has strong organizational skills, can build effective and engaging course content, and understands the unique challenges of digital education. You will join our team of course designers and help support our efforts to deliver the best language education in the world through evidence-based practices. Join Duolingo to feel empowered as an educator, affecting how millions of people learn!

You Will...

• Design the curriculum and internal pedagogical resources for Duolingo courses teaching Japanese
• Create content for a variety of features spanning both implicit and explicit teaching of Japanese
• Create assessments of learners’ language knowledge
• Provide Japanese-related pedagogical support to multiple teams
• Help develop and implement efficient processes for scaling the creation of educational content
• Help recruit, train, and supervise other course content creators
• Help communicate the science behind Duolingo’s teaching methodology to a wider audience

You Have...

• Teaching experience. You have at least 2 years of experience teaching Japanese as a second language.
• Pedagogical expertise. You are familiar with external standards for teaching Japanese (e.g. JLPT), and can design course curricula that effectively scaffold the learning experience for learners with a particular language background.
• Analytical thinking. You are able to think about language in a structured and analytical way. For example, you excel at breaking down grammatical concepts into smaller parts for the purposes of teaching and assessment.
• Language expertise. You have native or near-native proficiency in Japanese and strong familiarity with the Japanese culture.
• Strong communication. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Operational focus. You are organized and efficient, and strive to continuously improve your workflow and processes.

Requirements:

• MA (or equivalent experience) in Japanese, applied linguistics, linguistics, or a related field
• Ability to work full-time from or relocate to Pittsburgh, PA

Exceptional Candidates Will Have...

• Multilingual language background
• Experience managing people and projects

2020 Korean-American film Minari remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) April 14.

The 2020 Korean-American film Minari, which opened in Pittsburgh on February 11, will remain here through at least April 14. A synopsis, from the distributor:

A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

It will continue at several local theaters, including (on certain days) the AMC Loews Waterfront and Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Pitt hiring Visiting Korean Instructor.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring a Visiting Instructor to teach Korean courses for the 2021-2022 academic year.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures of the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for the position of Visiting Instructor for its Korean language program, pending budgetary approval. The appointment will begin on September 1, 2021, and end on April 30, 2022. The candidate must hold a MA degree in teaching Korean as a second language, foreign language teaching, applied linguistics, or a related field by the time of appointment and possess broad competence in teaching Korean language courses. The successful candidate will teach six courses per year. The candidate must be native or near a native user of Korean and English. should have at least one year’s experience teaching Korean language courses at a North American institution, preferably in person. Other duties may include mentoring students, normal service duties in the Department, and working with other Asia specialists in the Department and on campus.

The University of Pittsburgh has dedicated substantial resources to international studies and encourages interdisciplinary research and teaching through the established programs in Film Studies, Cultural Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, and Global Studies. The intellectual environment at the University of Pittsburgh provides ample opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation. The East Asian Library is one of the best in the nation, and there are superlative research facilities, as well as funds for research and teaching.

Applicants should send a letter of application, CV, evidence of teaching ability (e. g., student teaching evaluations), sample syllabus for one course, statements of teaching philosophy, diversity and inclusion statement, and a list of three references to the University of Pittsburgh’s Talent Center.

For more information, contact Victoria Donahoe (vjd8@pitt.edu). The position will be filled as soon as the qualified candidate is found.

Eddie Huang film Boogie continues in Pittsburgh, through (at least) April 14.

The Eddie Huang film Boogie, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 5, will continue here through at least April 14. From the distributor:

From acclaimed writer, producer and restaurateur Eddie Huang comes his directorial debut Boogie, the coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA. While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate a new girlfriend, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.

It will continue locally at AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

"Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community," April 15 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host "Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community" on April 15. It starts at 5:30 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Pitt hiring part-time Japanese teacher for Summer 2021.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring a part-time instructor of Japanese for Summer 2021.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures seeks a part-time instructor of Japanese Language starting Summer Term 2021. Instructors must have a Bachelor’s degree and experience teaching Japanese conversation classes at university level more than one year. Native speakers of Japanese are preferred. Duties include teaching recitation sections. The instructor will continue teaching during the regular academic year, though work hours are expected to be limited and/or unstable. Interested applicants should remit a CV and cover letter. The position will be filled as soon as qualified candidates are found.

2020 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, from April 23.

The 2020 Japanese animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh from April 23. A synopsis of the top-grossing film in Japan last year, from the theaters:

Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!

Tickets will go on sale on April 9, though showings have been announced so far for the Waterworks and Cranberry Cinemas.

Talk on Japanese horror films "Naming Fears," April 7 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Michael Crandol and his talk "Naming Fears" online on April 7.

Dr. Crandol will share insights about his latest publication, Ghost in the Well (Bloomsbury 2021), the first study to provide a full history of the horror genre in Japanese cinema, from the silent era to Classical period movies such as Nakagawa Nobuo’s Tokaido Yotusya kaidan (1959) to the contemporary global popularity of J-horror pictures like the Ring and Ju-on franchises.

The talk starts at 12:00 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

#StopAsianHate: A Teach-In, April 9 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center is hosting "#StopAsianHate: A Teach-In" on April 9.

Recent increases in violence and harassment have brought to national attention the prejudices Asian Americans face every day, and events like the March 16 shootings in Atlanta, GA have left communities feeling shaken. This teach-in will examine the history of anti-Asian prejudice, both overt and covert, in the US, as well as discussing current events in an interdisciplinary context.

The online event starts at 2:00 pm, and registration is required.

Sakura at Japanese garden in Shadyside.

The Japanese Garden at UPMC Shadyside is a quiet oasis next to a busy, oft-jammed Centre Ave. It has several ornamental statutes, rock gardens, and quiet nooks, and is ringed by cherry blossoms. Reads a plaque at the entrance:

This garden is a gift from Dr. Kazuo Kodera in honor of nurses. It is a place for health care providers to think about our friends around the world and to reflect on the meaning of our work, which i to care for one another. It is a place to find new friendships, to find new hope, and to find peace.

We hope you enjoy your time here.

September 2005

See also posts from 2018 and 2014.

2018 Japanese film Mirai (未来のミライ) online at Pitt, April 28.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2018 Japanese film Mirai (未来のミライ) on April 28 as an installment of its Watch Party Wednesday series. From the distributor:

From acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children) and Japan’s Studio Chizu comes MIRAI, a daringly original story of love passed down through generations. When four-year-old Kun meets his new baby sister, his world is turned upside down. Named Mirai (meaning “future”), the baby quickly wins the hearts of Kun’s entire family. As his mother returns to work, and his father struggles to run the household, Kun becomes increasingly jealous of baby Mirai… until one day he storms off into the garden, where he encounters strange guests from the past and future – including his sister Mirai, as a teenager. Together, Kun and teenage Mirai go on a journey through time and space, uncovering their family’s incredible story. But why did Mirai come from the future? An official selection at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, and the epic capstone of director Mamoru Hosoda’s career, Mirai is a sumptuous, magical, and emotionally soaring adventure about the ties that bring families together and make us who we are.

The movie starts at 7:00 pm and registration is required.

Talk on technology in Japanese language classroom, April 15 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host Dr. Abigail McMeekin on April 15 for a talk on using technology in the Japanese language classroom. It runs from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, though login information is not yet available.

"Estrofem Lab: Estrogen Geeking" with Mary Maggic, April 7 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh will host Mary Maggic and "Estrofem Lab: Estrogen Geeking" on April 7.

Artist and biologist Mary Maggic will introduce and screen their short film, Open Source Estrogen, and discuss their work ESTROFEM LAB:: ESTROGEN GEEKING which combines do-it-yourself science, body and gender politics, and ecological ramifications of the present. Maggic will discuss their work as a form of biotechnical civil disobedience.

The event runs from 3:25 to 4:40 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Chao Phraya Thai Cuisine now open in Baldwin.

Chao Phraya Thai Cuisine has recently opened in Baldwin. It is located at 328 Curry Hollow Rd. in the Curry Hollow Center strip mall (map).

2020 American-Chinese film Over the Moon online with Pitt, April 7.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2020 American-Chinese film Over the Moon on April 7, part of the Watch Party Wednesday series. A synopsis from Netflix:

Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess.

The free online watch party starts at 7:00 pm and registration is required.

"'Authors and Anecdotes' Book Club: Featuring Adrienne Su," April 8 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh will host Adrienne Su in an upcoming installment of its "Authors and Anecdotes" series on April 8.

Join this week's featured author, Adrienne Su, in our virtual book club series, “Authors and Anecdotes”, as she discusses her book, Peach State.

Peach State has its origins in Atlanta, Georgia, the author’s hometown and an emblematic city of the New South, a name that reflects the American region’s invigoration in recent decades by immigration and a spirit of reinvention. Focused mainly on food and cooking, these poems explore the city’s transformation from the mid-twentieth century to today, as seen and shaped by Chinese Americans. Often employing forms—sonnet, villanelle, sestina, palindrome, ghazal, rhymed stanzas—they also mirror the constant negotiation with tradition that marks both immigrant and Southern experience.

Click HERE to be directed to the University of Pittsburgh Press website to learn more about Peach State. Purchasing options for the book is available on this site, and it can also be purchased at any independent bookstore of your choice. (While we encourage you to read the books ahead of time it is not a requirement to participate in the series.)

Join us as we not only discuss her book, but also dive into Su's personal literature collection, her favorite readings, and participate in a live Q&A!

The free event starts at 12:00 pm and registration is required.