"Rights Make Might: Global Human Rights and Minority Social Movements in Japan," February 18 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Sociology will host Kiyoteru Tsutsui and his talk "Rights Make Might: Global Human Rights and Minority Social Movements in Japan" on February 18.

Since the late 1970s, the three most salient minority groups in Japan - the politically dormant Ainu, the active but unsuccessful Koreans, and the former outcaste group of Burakumin - have all expanded their activism despite the unfavorable domestic political environment. In Rights Make Might, Kiyoteru Tsutsui examines why, and finds an answer in the galvanizing effects of global human rights on local social movements. Tsutsui chronicles the transformative impact of global human rights ideas and institutions on minority activists, which changed their understandings about their standing in Japanese society and propelled them to new international venues for political claim making. The global forces also changed the public perception and political calculus in Japan over time, catalyzing substantial gains for their movements. Having benefited from global human rights, all three groups repaid their debt by contributing to the consolidation and expansion of human rights principles and instruments outside of Japan. Drawing on interviews and archival data, Rights Make Might offers a rich historical comparative analysis of the relationship between international human rights and local politics that contributes to our understanding of international norms and institutions, social movements, human rights, ethnoracial politics, and Japanese society.

The talk runs from 4:00 to 5:30 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Nine Japanese animated films in Pittsburgh for Studio Ghibli Fest 2019, from April 7.

GKIDS announced the line-up for its Studio Ghibli Fest 2019, which will bring nine films to American theaters from April through December:

• Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城): April 7, April 8, April 10
• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ): May 20 and May 21
• Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば): July 1 and July 2
• Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便): July 28, July 29, and July 30
• My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ): August 25, August 26, and August 28
• The Secret World of Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ)): September 29, and September 30
• Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し): October 27, October 28, and October 30
• Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫): November 17, November 18, and November 20
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語): December 16 and December 18

There will be screenings in Japanese with English subtitles as well as English-dubbed versions. Tickets for all shows will go on sale March 7; films are likely to play at local Cinemark theaters, as in years past.

WESA FM asks "What Happened To Pittsburgh's Chinatown?"

Taken in 2012.

Pittsburgh's NPR station, WESA FM, has a lengthy piece on what happened to Pittsburgh's Chinatown.

2018 Japanese movie Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative [機動戦士ガンダムNT (ナラティブ)] in Pittsburgh, February 19.

The 2018 Japanese movie Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative [機動戦士ガンダムNT (ナラティブ)] will play in Pittsburgh on February 19. Anime News Network has a summary:

U.C. 0097. One year since the Laplace's Box was opened. Despite the revelation of the original charter for the Universal Century, which acknowledges the existence of Newtypes and their rights, the world remains largely unchanged. After the destruction of the Neo Zeon remnant force known as the Sleeves, the event that has come to be known as the "Laplace Incident" seems to have drawn to a close. In the final battle, two Full Psycho Frame mobile suits displayed power beyond human imagination. The menace of the White Unicorn and the Black Lion were sealed away from public consciousness, and were consigned to be forgotten by history. But now sightings of the RX-0 Unicorn 03, long thought lost two years ago, are being reported. Its name is Phenex, an immortal golden bird.

The movie will play at 7:00 pm the Southside Works Cinema and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson. These screenings are dubbed in English.

New films The Wandering Earth (流浪地球), Pegasus (飞驰人生),Fall in Love at First Kiss (一吻定情 ) staying in Pittsburgh through February 20 (at least).

New Chinese films The Wandering Earth (流浪地球), Pegasus (飞驰人生), andFall in Love at First Kiss (一吻定情 ), will stay in Pittsburgh through at least February 20. The first two were released to coincide with the Lunar New Year, while the latter will be released on Valentine's day.

"Japan 2019: Outlook and Challenges" with Deputy Counsel General of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Koji Abe, February 20 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Deputy Counsel General of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Koji Abe and his talk "Japan 2019: Outlook and Challenges" on February 20.

Deputy Counsel General of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Koji Abe will be discussing the current situation in Japan and challenges to come. He will consider Japan's relations with East Asia and South Asia, as well as the US-Japan alliance. He will examine the USJTA and TPP, grassroots activities in Japan, and other political, social, and economic aspects of Japan.

It will be held from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at 4130 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Lunar New Year Celebration, February 15 at Pitt.

The Pitt Chinese Department and Chinese Club will present a Lunar New Year Celebration on February 15. It runs from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map).

New Chinese movie Fall in Love at First Kiss (一吻定情 ) opens in Pittsburgh on February 14.

The new Chinese movie Fall in Love at First Kiss (一吻定情 ) will open around the world, including Pittsburgh, on February 14. A Malaysian site provides a summary:

Director Chen Yu San’s second film, Fall In Love At First Kiss, does not stray too far from her first feature – the successful romantic flick, Our Times. She has also gotten Our Times actor Darren Wang to be the male lead in First Kiss.

Adapted from Japanese manga Mischievous Kiss (by Kaoru Tada), First Kiss tells of schoolgirl Yuan Xiang Qin (Lin Yun, of The Mermaid) falling hard for the new boy in school, Jiang Zhi Shu (Wang). Unfortunately, Zhi Shu is superior to Xiang Qin in every way – from his looks to his IQ. Undeterred, she decides to follow her feelings and confess her love for him.

Tickets and showtime information is available online via Fandango. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

"From Animation to Martial Arts: Toward the Transcendence of False Movements," February 21 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Pittsburgh Film and Media Colloquium will present Dr. Jinying Li and her talk "From Animation to Martial Arts: Toward the Transcendence of False Movements" on February 21.

燃而不毁-荆棘火敬拜团原创诗歌音乐会, March 9.

The Chinese Bible Study Fellowship and the Pittsburgh Chinese Church of Oakland will host a musical performance by Burning Bush on March 9. Please note: the entire event will be in Mandarin.

Join the Chinese Bible Study Fellowship for a night of music sharing by Burning Bush Worship Band from Chicago that creates all original content. It's a time to relax, enjoy music, and meet some new people! Free refreshments will be provided. Please note that the entire event will be in Mandarin Chinese. We hope to see you there! Tickets are free, please sign up with the link below.

The event is free but registration is required and can be made online. It runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in Bellefield Hall in Oakland (map).