Tsung-Che Cheng (鄭宗哲) makes Major League debut, becoming third Taiwanese player in Pittsburgh Pirates history.

Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng (鄭宗哲) became the third Taiwanese player in Pittsburgh Pirates history when he made his Major League debut this afternoon against the Cardinals. The Pirates called him up on Monday after infielder Jared Triolo went on the injured list. They signed him as a 17-year-old prospect in 2019, and he's the third Taiwanese player to make the regular season roster, after Wei-chung Wang in 2019 and Yu Chang in 2022. Chang is the longest-tenured Taiwanese player in Pittsburgh Pirates history, logging 18 games played and 42 at-bats. The Pirates have had numerous other Taiwanese players in the system, dating back to at least 2009 with Sheng-qin Hong, Pin-Hong Ji, and Ji-wei Xu.

The Pirates have had a number of other Asian-born players in their system, including: Chan-ho Park, Jung-ho Kang, Hoy Park, Ji-hwan Bae, and Ji-man Choi from Korea; and Masumi Kuwata, Akinori Iwamoto, Hisanori Takahashi, and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo from Japan.

Cheng is currently wearing #71 for the Pirates.

Pirates call up Tsung-Che Cheng (鄭宗哲), who will be the third Taiwanese player in Pirates history when he takes the field.

Before the game on Monday evening the Pittsburgh Pirates called up shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng (鄭宗哲) to their roster. Cheng is the Pirates #17 ranked prospect, and was added when infielder Jared Triolo was placed on the 10-day injured list. Cheng was signed as a 17-year-old in 2019, and he is among over a dozen Taiwanese players and prospects who have been in the Pirates organziation. When he gets into a regular season game he will be the third Taiwanese player to make the big league roster, after Wei-chung Wang in 2019 and Yu Chang in 2022.

Telling the Multiple Histories of Island Taiwan: The Case of the National Museum of Taiwan History, March 28 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Library will host "Telling the Multiple Histories of Island Taiwan: The Case of the National Museum of Taiwan History" on March 28.

This presentation will focus on the exhibitions and publications of the National Taiwan Museum of History as key examples, exploring contemporary Taiwan's collective memory and public discourse featuring Dr. Lung-chih Chang 張隆志, Director of National Museum of Taiwan History. Dr. Lung-chih Chang 張隆志 specializes in Social & cultural history of Taiwan, ethnic relations, comparative colonialism, and Taiwanese historiography.

This event is sponsored by Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies and the University of Pittsburgh Library System's East Asian Library.

It runs from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the 3rd floor Archives & Special Collections Instruction Room (map), and is free and open to the public.

Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival, May 11 at Heinz History Center.

The third annual Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival will take place on May 11 at the Heinz History Center. The three-hour festival will feature food from 15 restaurants plus cultural performances and other attractions. The restaurant and vendor line-up includes, so far: Bombay & Burgh, Chengdu Gourmet, Hungry Panda, HK Dim Sum, Kung Fu Chicken 2, Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, Pho Van, Szechuan Spice House, Sushi Fuku, Tous les Jours, Yujian Bao, and 1:11 Juice Bar, with a few others set to be announced soon.

The event runs from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, and the Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District (map).

Sushi Atarashi's revolving sushi concept in Robinson closes, owner aims to regroup and reopen in a new location.

Sushi Atarashi transformed its Robinson location into revolving sushi restaurant on September 16, but closed a few months later on January 11. Atarashi was the second revovling sushi restaurant in Pittsburgh, after Kura Sushi opened on the Southside in September 2023.

The owner says he hopes to open a new revolving sushi restaurant in a more viable location in the city, though he's still scouting an ideal spot. The revolving concept was originally going to be part of the East End Meridian development under construction in East Liberty on the site of the former Shakespeare Giant Eagle, but ownership confirms space constraints will now limit it to an original Atarashi layout.

Sushi Atarashi is the rebranded outcome of Sushi Fuku, as the two split back in 2015 with the S. Craig St. location in Oakland retaining the original name. Sushi Atarashi---atarashi means "new" in Japanese---has several locations around the Pittsburgh area in addition to the original Oakland Avenue location.

Taiwanese-style chicken restaurant Kung Fu Chicken opens second location, this time in Shadyside.

Kung Fu Chicken, which operates a location in the Novo Asian Food Hall in the Strip District Terminal, opened another location in Shadyside on February 28. It is located at 709 Bellefonte St. in Shadyside (map), the former spot of I Tea Cafe, one of the first bubble tea places in Pittsburgh when it opened in 2013. From its signage:

At Kung Fu Chicken, we bring the authentic taste of Taiwan's bustling street food culture right to your table. Inspired by the vibrant night markets of Taipei, our specialty is the iconic Taiwanese chicken cutlet, known for its mouthwatering flavor, tender texture, and signature crispy coating. Our journey began with a passion for sharing the joy of traditional Taiwanese street food. Each cutlet is carefully crafted using fresh, high-quality ingredients and marinated in a blend of soy sauce, garlic, and secret spices, staying true to time-honored recipes. We pride ourselves on delivering a perfect balance of flavors---crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with just the right amount of seasoning.

A Taiwanese chicken cutlet, also known as "ji pai" (雞排), is a popular street food in Taiwan. It's a large, boneless chicken breast that is pounded thin to tenderize it, then marinated in a mixture of soysauce, garlic, and spices to infuse it with rich flavor. The chicken is made from sweet potato starch, which gives it a distinctive crispy texture when deep-fried. The cutlet is typically seasoned with a special blend of spices, including white pepper, Chinese five-spice and chili powder for a mildly spicy kick. It's usually served piping hot, sometimes with a sprinkle of additional seasoning on top, and enjoyed as a snack or meal-on-the-go.

Screening of After Spring, the Tamaki Family (海的彼端), March 1 at Carnegie Mellon University.

Café Philo-Pittsburgh will present a screening of the film After Spring, the Tamaki Family (海的彼端) on March 1.

Join a movie screening of <After Spring, The Tamaki Family…> on Saturday, March 1 at 2pm at CMU.

This documentary delves into the history and identity struggles of the Tamaki family, the largest Taiwanese clan on Japan's Ishigaki Island. Forced into repatriation, the family endured the 228 Incident and 30 years as stateless refugees under U.S. rule in Okinawa. As the first generation ages, the Tamaki children plan a final journey to Taiwan to reconnect with their roots.

This is an event to commemorate the February 28 massacre of 1947 in Taiwan.  

Admission is FREE. Please reserve your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/after-spring-the-tamaki-family-movie-screening-tickets-1227065819899 

Check-in for the event starts at 1:30 pm, a brief intro will start at 2:00, the film will start at 2:10, and the movie will be followed by a post-screening talk. The events will be held in McConomy Auditorium in the Jared L. Cohon University Center at Carnegie Mellon University (map). The screening is sponsored by Taiwan International Democratic Film Festival (TIDFF), KITA Foundation, Taiwan Aloha, and the Taiwanese Scholar Society in Pittsburgh (TSS).

New time for Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Parade on Sunday, February 16.

Organizers have moved the start time of the Lunar New Year Parde through Squirrel Hill from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the hopes of finding warmer weather. The relatively new annual tradition returns in 2025 after taking 2024 off. The parade moves up Murray Ave. from Phillips Ave. to Forbes Ave. (map).

Two information sessions on Huayu Scholarship for Mandarin-language study in Taiwan, February 10 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will present two information sessions on Huayu Scholarship for Mandarin-language study in Taiwan on February 10. The scholarship is open to University of Pittsburgh undergraduate and graduate students. The sessions run from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map). More information about the scholarhsip to National Taiwan Normal University is available via this Qualtrics survey.

Screening of After Spring, the Tamaki Family (海的彼端), March 1 at Carnegie Mellon University.

Café Philo-Pittsburgh will present a screening of the film After Spring, the Tamaki Family (海的彼端) on March 1.

Join a movie screening of <After Spring, The Tamaki Family…> on Saturday, March 1 at 2pm at CMU.

This documentary delves into the history and identity struggles of the Tamaki family, the largest Taiwanese clan on Japan's Ishigaki Island. Forced into repatriation, the family endured the 228 Incident and 30 years as stateless refugees under U.S. rule in Okinawa. As the first generation ages, the Tamaki children plan a final journey to Taiwan to reconnect with their roots.

This is an event to commemorate the February 28 massacre of 1947 in Taiwan.  

Admission is FREE. Please reserve your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/after-spring-the-tamaki-family-movie-screening-tickets-1227065819899 

Check-in for the event starts at 1:30 pm, a brief intro will start at 2:00, the film will start at 2:10, and the movie will be followed by a post-screening talk. The events will be held in McConomy Auditorium in the Jared L. Cohon University Center at Carnegie Mellon University (map). The screening is sponsored by Taiwan International Democratic Film Festival (TIDFF), KITA Foundation, Taiwan Aloha, and the Taiwanese Scholar Society in Pittsburgh (TSS).

Lunar New Year Celebration, February 1 at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel.

The Cooper-Siegel Community Library will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on February 1.

Celebrate and learn about the Lunar New Year! This annual celebration organized by the Asian community of the Fox Chapel area features a wide variety of different festival activities. Final plans are still being made, but previous years have included: traditional Chinese music performed by Dorseyville Middle School students, taekwondo performed by the Young Brothers Taekwondo School students, a dragon parade, storytelling, crafts, as well as treats and gifts.

All ages are welcome.

The event runs from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. Registration is required and can be completed online. The Cooper-Siegel Community Library is located at 403 Fox Chapel Rd. (map).

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!

It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

2025 Squirrel Hill Lunar New Year Parade, February 16.

Pittsburgh's Lunar New Year Parade will return in 2025. From the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition:

Please come out to join us to celebrate the 2025 Lunar New Year with a parade starting at Phillips and Murray (Streets closed Phillips to Forbes on Murray Ave from 9 - 12 pm)

Update: the start time has been moved to 12:00 pm.

The relatively new annual tradition returns after taking 2024 off. The parade starts at 10:00 am, moving up Murray Ave. from Phillips Ave. to Forbes Ave. (map).

Monthly Chinese & English Storytime for kids, starting January 4 at Cooper-Siegel Library in Fox Chapel.

The monthly Chinese-English Storytime will continue in 2025 at the Cooper-Siegel Library with its first session on January 4.

Explore the Chinese language through bilingual songs, books, and playful experiences. This program is designed for kids in grades preschool - 2nd grade with their caregivers. This program occurs on the first Saturday of the month. Please register for all dates you plan to attend.

The event runs from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in the Verne C. Koch Program Room. Future sessions are scheduled for February 1, March 1, April 5, and May 3. (There are also Chinese-English Storytimes scheduled for January 17, February 15, March 15, and May 17, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, at the Sharpsburg Community Library.) Registration is required and can be completed online. The Cooper-Siegel Community Library is located at 403 Fox Chapel Rd. (map).

Registration open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Registration remains open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Embark on an extraordinary linguistic journey by learning Chinese! Because of this incredible support, we’ve crafted an environment that goes beyond language acquisition—it’s an adventure into the heart of Mandarin-speaking culture. Seize the opportunity to not just learn a language, but to unlock a world of possibilities and enrich your personal and professional journey. Don’t miss out on the chance to thrive in a community where language and culture converge seamlessly. Join us and let the language of opportunity be your guide!

Classes are Sundyas from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm at South Hills Middle School (map), and the next sesion runs from January 12 through April 6, 2025. The cost is $120 per term, with discounts for referrals available. Space is limited and registration can be completed online.

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!

It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

Registration now open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Registration is now open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Embark on an extraordinary linguistic journey by learning Chinese! Because of this incredible support, we’ve crafted an environment that goes beyond language acquisition—it’s an adventure into the heart of Mandarin-speaking culture. Seize the opportunity to not just learn a language, but to unlock a world of possibilities and enrich your personal and professional journey. Don’t miss out on the chance to thrive in a community where language and culture converge seamlessly. Join us and let the language of opportunity be your guide!

Classes are Sundyas from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm at South Hills Middle School (map), and the next sesion runs from January 12 through April 6, 2025. The cost is $120 per term, with discounts for referrals available. Space is limited and registration can be completed online.

2024 action film Weekend in Taipei in Pittsburgh, from November 7.

The 2024 action film Weekend in Taipei, set in the Taiwanese capital and featuring a number of Taiwanese actors in co-starring roles, plays in Pittsburgh-area theaters from November 7 through November 14.

John Lawlor is a pit-bull DEA agent married to his job -- there's not a bad guy he can't stop, nothing he won't sacrifice to close out a case. Joey Kang is a top "Transporter" in Taipei -- fast-driving and fast-thinking, she's difficult to pin down, impossible to catch. The two of them weren't supposed to fall in love, but fate brought them together... before forces of crime and corruption tore them apart. Now, 15 years later, fate puts Joey and John on a collision course during a weekend in Taipei. And the two will discover that the only thing harder than falling in love... is falling back in love.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Classic Mt. Lebanon, and the AMC Classic Westmoreland, and tickets are available online.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan performing in Pittsburgh, November 16.

The Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan will perform in Pittsburgh on November 16.

Claimed as “Asia’s leading contemporary dance theater” (The Times), Cloud Gate has set out to engage with local history, culture, and subject matter through classical, folk, and modern dance for over 50 years. Cloud Gate combines their practices in Qi Gong, martial artist, modern dance, street dance, and ballet—transforming ancient aesthetics into a thrilling celebration of motion.

Cloud Gate shares 13 Tongues by artistic director CHENG Tsung-lung, a work based on Bangka/Wanhua, the oldest district of Taipei, and legendary 1960s street artist “Thirteen Tongues”. Through imagination and storytelling recalling childhood memories and visual art, 13 Tongues evokes centuries of human endeavor, behavior, and belief.

The performance will be held at the Byham Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map). Tickets are now available online.

Free beginner-level Chinese courses at Carnegie Library - East Liberty, Saturdays through November 16.

via Khun Hans Photography (Creative Commons)

The Carnegie Library in East Liberty will host "We Learn: Beginner-Level Chinese Language" courses Saturdays through November 16. (The classes actually started on September 28).

Welcome to the Chinese language learning circle! This is a beginner-level class, so you do not need to have any prior experience with the language. We will be learning basic spoken Mandarin and possibly some very basic written Chinese if there is enough interest.

My name is Kevin and I will be facilitating this language circle. I am not a native Chinese speaker but I have been studying the language for several years so I am familiar with the difficulties that learners face. Chinese is not an easy language, so you should not expect to become an expert after just a few weeks, but I hope this learning circle will provide a good foundation that you can continue to build on if you choose to continue studying.

Registration can be completed online. The classes start at 3:00 pm and the library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).