16 feature films plus host of short films included in 2024 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, March 15 - 28.

The Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, which launched in 2016 as the area's only festival focused on Japanese cinema, has recently announced its 2024 line-up, which will include 16 full-length films and a selection of short films, and a focus on new releases and horror films. Movies will screen at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from March 15 through 28, and include:

A Man (ある男, 2023)

A Page of Madness (狂った一頁, 1926)

Baby Assassins 2 Babies (ベイビーわるきゅーれ2, 2023)

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (ドロステのはてで僕ら, 2020) - Opening Night

Blue Giant (Blue Giant, 2023)

High and Low (天国と地獄, 1968)

House (ハウス, 1977)

Ichi the Killer (殺し屋１, 2001)

Kuroneko (藪の中の黒猫, 1968)

Monster (怪物, 2023)

Ninja vs. Shark (妖獣奇譚 ニンジャVSシャーク, 2023) - Closing Night

Noroi: The Curse (ノロイ, 2005)

Ringu (リング, 1998)

The Face of Another (他人の顔, 1966)

The First Slam Dunk (THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, 2022)

Tokyo Story (東京物語, 1953)

More details about each film is available at each link. Not all times and events have been announced yet, but select ticket packages are now available online. The Row House is a single-screen theater located at 4115 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Japanese animated films Rascal Does Not Dream double feature in Pittsburgh, March 24 and 25.

Two 2023 Japanese animated films, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out (青春ブタ野郎はおでかけシスターの夢を見ない) and Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid (青春ブタ野郎はランドセルガールの夢を見ない) will play in Pittsburgh on March 24 and 25 as a double feature. The films adapt volumes eight and nine, respectively, of the manga series. Wikipedia provides a general overview of the manga series:

High school student Sakuta Azusagawa's life takes a turn for the unexpected when he meets teenage actress Mai Sakurajima, dressed as a bunny girl, wandering through a library and not being noticed by anyone else there. Mai is intrigued that Sakuta is the only one who can see her, as other people are unable to see her, even when she is dressing normally or attempting to stay away from celebrity life. Calling this phenomenon "Adolescence Syndrome", Sakuta decides to solve this mystery, while continuing to get closer to Mai and meeting other girls who suffer from "Adolescence Syndrome" as well.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in the North Hills, and tickets are available online. The March 24 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while the March 25 ones are dubbed in English.

Pittsburgh's first Tous Les Jours set to open February 22.

Pittsburgh's first Tous Les Jours has announced an opening date of February 22, and to mark the occassion it has several giveaways.

Tous Les Jours is a huge Korean bakery chain with locations around the world, and the first Pittsburgh location will be at Eastside Bond Building C in East Liberty, across from the Target (map). Tous Les Jours, says its US website, "has developed into a reputable neighborhood bakery specializing in French-Asian inspired baked goods, hand crafted beverages and bold, flavorful coffee and espresso made with the finest ingredients." It joins Paris Baguette as two international Korean bakery chains coming soon to Pittsburgh to supplement Sumi's Cakery, the lone Korean bakery in the area.

More progress on Hong BBQ & Hot Pot, coming soon to McKnight Road.

Hong BBQ & Hot Pot, one of five hot pot and Korean BBQ places coming soon to Pittsburgh, shared some progress pics on Facebook earlier this month. It is aiming for a spring opening and will be located at 4801 McKnight Rd, North Hills (map), the most recent in a long line of Asian restaurants to occupy the spot next to Best Buy that "used to be Tokyo Sushi Buffet."
New paint job and some interior renovations from late last year.

Yan Pang: “One-Log Bridge” Concert Premiere, March 10 at City of Asylum's Alphabet City.

City of Asylum will present the world premiere of the concert adaptation of Yan Pan's "One-Log Bridge" on March 10.

The world premiere of the One-Log-Bridge concert adaptation.

This concert adaptation of One-Log Bridge has been created especially for the Alphabet City stage and audience, exploring (through music) cross-cultural exchange as well as the latitudes of the human experience—from pain and hurt to community and joy. One-Log Bridge is the creation of composer Yan Pang, who combined elements of traditional Chinese opera and American musical theater to produce a unique show that premiered in December 2023 at the New Hazlett Theater. Based on Yan Pang’s own story, the play tells the story of an aspiring composer from China moving to America to pursue their dream. What will they find stateside? Friendship, community, and love? Or racism, humiliation, and alienation? What about both? 

A Note from Yan Pang: “My creations intricately interlace Chinese and American cultural aspects. This amalgamation generates harmonious tensions that serve as the foundation for performances addressing social justice, belonging, and my own experiences as a first-generation Chinese immigrant woman. One-Log Bridge endeavors to transcend norms, challenging expectations by venturing beyond the confines of traditional classical composition.”

This program features a concert and dance performance followed by a talkback with the performers. 

More information about the cast and crew is available online. Tickets for the in-person and streaming events are free, but registration is required. It runs from 6:00 to 7:30 at Alphabet City on the North Side (map).

Progress begins on Hong Kong Dim Sum in North Oakland.

Progress in the way of brown paper bags over the windows has begun on the Hong Kong Dim Sum coming to North Oakland. It will open on the ground floor of the newish apartment complex, One On Centre (map), and will be run---or at least financed---by the team that recently opened Mi Fan in East Liberty. (Ownership did not respond to requests for comment.)

Latest updates on the new Many More Asian Market store opening in the Strip District.

Many More Asian Market shared some photos and updates on its long-awaited new location set to open near the boundary of Lawrenceville and the Strip District. From Facebook today:

How is everyone? Chinese New Year is approaching! It's the year of the dragon! Some good news : the stolen parts have finally been reordered and arrived, so the process can continue!! It is looking great! We don't have an opening day yet (it seems like every time we expect to open, something happens… so ). We will definitely announce it when we do open though! So stay tuned for the next update!! Happy Lunar New Year!!!

In the mean time , the market at the Smallman street location is still open! We prepared many New Year specials for the celebration. Come check it out!

The new place was supposed to open earlier in 2023, but delays and theft have pushed it back. It will be located at 2767 Liberty Ave, Strip District (map).

Winter Matsuri with CMU's Japanese Student Association, February 17.

Carnegie Mellon University's Japanese Student Association will host its Winter Matsuri on February 17.

We are so excited to announce Carnegie Mellon's JSA's next major event of the semester, our Winter Matsuri! This year we will be hosting Matsuri with the theme of 細雪（ささめゆき）, or Light Snow, with the hopes that the end of winter will bring about beautiful snow!

Join us on February 17th, from 12-6 PM in the Cohon University Center (Rangos Ballroom) and play some traditional Japanese games, eat winter-themed foods, and watch performances from both university J-pop band and local Pittsburgh performers.

2023 Celine Song Oscar-nominated film Past Lives remains in Pittsburgh through February 15.

The 2023 Celine Song film Past Lives, which re-opened in Pittsburgh on January 26, will play here through (at least) February 15, running at both the Row House Cinema as part of its Love Languages series and at the AMC Loews Waterfront. From the distributor:

Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.

The movie opened here in June 2023 and had multiple runs throughout the last half of the year. and it is scheduled to play at the Row House Lawrenceville in February. Past Lives plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront on select dates through the 13th, and tickets for those shows are available online. Tickets for its run at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville are available at that theater's website.

2009 Japanese movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete in Pittsburgh, February 21 and 22.

The 2009 Japanese movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, the director's cut of the 2005 movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, will play in Pittsburgh on February 21 and 22.

Continuing the storyline based on the hit Playstation® game Final Fantasy VII, two years have passed since the ruins of Midgar stand as a testament to the sacrifices made in order to bring peace. However, the world will soon face a new menace. A mysterious illness is spreading fast. Old enemies are astir. And Cloud, who walked away from the life of a hero to live in solitude, must step forward yet again . . .

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; the February 21 screening is dubbed in English while the February 22 show is in Japanese with English subtitles.