Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Comedian Fumi Abe in Pittsburgh, July 18.


Japanese-American comedian Fumi Abe will perform at the Bottlerocket Social Hall on July 18.
Fumi Abe is a Japanese-American stand-up comedian/writer based in Los Angeles who recently made his TV debut on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

He has written for NPR’s “Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!”, was part of the 2020 Comedy Central Digital Creators Program, and is currently a staff writer on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

He produces and hosts a comedy podcast titled "Asian Not Asian", which was most recently included in Vulture’s Comedy Podcast Roundup as well as The AV Club’s Podcast series highlights.
The show starts at 8:00 pm and tickets are available online. Bottlerocket Social Hall is located at 1226 Arlington Ave. in the Allentown neighborhood (map).

1985 Akira Kurosawa film Ran (乱) in Pittsburgh, from May 24.


The 1985 Akira Kurosawa film Ran (乱) will play in Pittsburgh from May 24 through June 4, part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's occasional International Art House Classics series.
The 1985 New York Film Festival opened with Akira Kurosawa’s astonishing medieval epic, inspired by the life of Mori Motonari, a 16th-century warlord with three sons. It was only after he began writing that the filmmaker started to see parallels with King Lear. It took a decade for Kurosawa to bring his grand conception to the screen—he actually painted storyboards of every shot along the way, and made another great film, Kagemusha, as a dry run. The finished work he eventually gave us is, to put it mildly, a mind-blowing experience. Tatsuya Nakadai is the warlord, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, and Daisuke Ryu are his sons, Mieko Harada is the terrifying Lady Kaede, the score is by Toru Takemitsu, but the dominant force looming over every single element of this film, down to the smallest detail, is Kurosawa himself. The color palette of Ran is unlike that of any other movie made before or since, as you’ll see in this newly restored version.
It plays in Japanese with English subtitles at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online.

Monday, May 19, 2025

2016 film A Silent Voice (聲の形) at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 23.


The 2016 film A Silent Voice (聲の形) will play at the Rangos Giant Cinema on May 23, the third installment of its "Ani-May" series.
Shouya Ishida starts bullying the new girl in class, Shouko Nishimiya, because she is deaf. But as the teasing continues, the rest of the class starts to turn on Shouya for his lack of compassion. When they leave elementary school, Shouko and Shouya do not speak to each other again…until an older, wiser Shouya, tormented by his past behavior, decides he must see Shouko once more. He wants to atone for his sins, but is it already too late…?

“A Silent Voice” is a film that transcends genre, with a story that audiences from all walks of life can relate. The heartfelt and beautifully animated journey of redemption, forgiveness, and adolescence comes to The Rangos Giant Cinema on Fri., May 23 at 7 p.m.
The cost is $10 for museum members and $12 for non-members. The movie starts at 7:00 pm, and the theater is inside The Carnegie Science Center, which is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Sunday, May 18, 2025

DAN DA DAN: Evil Eye in Pittsburgh, from June 6.


The Japanese animated movie DAN DA DAN: Evil Eye will play in Pittsburgh from June 6.
In celebration of the return of DAN DA DAN, the theatrical premiere, releasing as DAN DA DAN: EVIL EYE, kicks off the thrillingly eerie EVIL EYE arc, which began in the last episode of the first season. The DAN DA DAN: EVIL EYE theatrical event screens last season’s start of the EVIL EYE arc, along with the first three episodes of the new second season, in addition to an exclusive interview with series co-directors Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Gongora. DAN DA DAN follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult geek. In this new arc, Momo and Okarun set out on their latest adventure, traveling to a hot springs town home rented by Jiji, Momo’s childhood friend and former crush, with the goal to solve the mystery surrounding his family. When they arrive, strange locals derail their investigation before it can begin, and the group soon learns there’s more lurking under the surface of the town than they could possibly have imagined.
It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson and the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and tickets are available online.

Friday, May 16, 2025

keshi's July 23 show in Pittsburgh cancelled.


Vietnamese-American singer-songwriter keshi's July 23 show at Stage AE has recently been cancelled due to low ticket sales.
There’s a few shows that’ll be coming down (detroit, columbus, pittsburgh, philadelphia, denver, & phoenix) because we weren’t able to sell enough tickets. As much as I wanted to play for y’all we weren’t able to make it happen this time around, but I’ll do my best to come back for you in the future. You’ll be automatically refunded within 30 days.

1989 Japanese animated film Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), in Pittsburgh, from May 17.


The 1989 Japanese animated film Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) will play in Pittsburgh May 17 through 21, the first installment of Studio Ghibli Fest 2025. A synopsis, from the distributor:
Celebrate this beloved coming-of-age story from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, about a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is a tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and fly off into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her new journey with her sarcastic black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside village, where her unique skills make her an instant sensation. Don’t miss this delightfully imaginative and timeless story of a young girl finding her way in the world[.]
It plays locally at most Pittsburgh-area theaters, and tickets are available online.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

New signage up for Taiwanese chain Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶) in Squirrel Hill.


New signage is up in Squirrel Hill for Taiwanese chain Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶), coming soon to Murray Ave. The US-based Taiwanese fruit tea chain put up window signage at 5825 Forbes Ave (map) in October, in what has been empty for a couple years but what was most recently Classic Lines bookstore. Paperwork and planning for the new tea spot---which will join Mango Mango, Tiger Sugar, Tsaaoca, and Meetcha on the same block---started back in April. Yi Fang currently has locations throughout California, the East Coast, and elsewhere in North America.

1973 movie Enter the Dragon at Rangos Giant Cinema, June 20.

The 1973 movie Enter the Dragon, starring Bruce Lee, will play at the Rangos Giant Cinema on June 20 as part of its June Action-Packed Series.
“Enter the Dragon” is often hailed as one of the most influential action films of all time, along with being credited for majorly contributing to the global mainstream popularity of martial arts films long after its release in 1973. Legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee seeks revenge for the death of his sister at the hands of a dangerous narcotics dealer by entering a kung fu competition with his partners, Roper and William. Come see Bruce Lee’s martial artistry on a screen that’s bigger than life at The Rangos Giant Cinema on Fri., June 20, at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available onlline, $10 for Carnegie Science Center members and $12 for non-members. The Carnegie Science Center is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

"The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac" at Byham Theater, March 14, 2026.


"The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac" will be performed at the Byham Theater on March 14, 2026, part of the Trust Family Series of performances aimed at younger audiences.
Join Freddie and Ivy alongside their grandparents, Po Po and Kung Kung, as their Chinese New Year celebrations take a turn from dumpling-making to discovering the incredible origin story of the Chinese Zodiac!

When the Jade Emperor needs a way to tell time, he decrees that the first twelve animals to cross the race’s mighty river will have a year named after them and will mark the passage of a 12-year cycle.

Learn which animals win & what traits helped their success, why the rat and cat are enemies, and how each animal earned their place in the Zodiac while enjoying traditional Chinese movement, music and martial arts!
The booking agency says the performance is best for kids in kindergarten through grade 3. Individual tickets are scheduled to go on sale today at 10:00 am EST. The show starts at 2:00 pm, and the Byham Theater is located at 101 6th Street in downtown's Cultural District (map).

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Let's Sushi, offering "unlimited Japanese fusion," coming to Wexford.


Signage is up for Let's Sushi in Wexford Plaza in the North Hills (map). The restaurant offering "unlimited Japanese fusion," according to a sign in the window, will be located in the spot formerly occupied by Nakama. Paperwork indicates Let's Sushi is owned by the properietor behind other Asian buffets that used to operate in the area: Misaki, Yamato Hibachi Grill, and Old Town Buffet.

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