Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar in Cranberry to hold Grand Opening today, August 4.

Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar in Cranberry, which ran its soft opening from July 23 through August 3, will hold its Grand Opening today, August 4, from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. It is located in the Cranberry Mall spot formerly occupied by Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing (map).

Welcome to Togyu Asian Barbecue & Bar—Pittsburgh’s premier destination for refined Korean and Japanese-style barbecue. Conceived by two brothers with a profound appreciation for the artistry of authentic Asian cuisine, Togyu was born from a desire to introduce an elevated culinary experience unlike any other in the city.

Drawing inspiration from the vibrant dining culture of cities like Seoul and Tokyo, we’ve curated an environment where elegance meets tradition.

Guests are invited to indulge in the highest quality Angus Prime beef, expertly paired with the freshest locally sourced vegetables, all prepared to perfection at the table. Every detail is designed to enhance the senses—from the richness of the ingredients to the ambiance that surrounds each meal.

Initially announced in March, it is one of several all-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ places announced for the Pittsburgh area in the last couple years, but the first for Cranberry.

Pittsburgh Taiko Beginner Workshop, August 10.

Pittsburgh Taiko is offering several beginner workshops this late-summer and fall, the first being Sunday, August 10.

Try taiko drumming with Pittsburgh Taiko!

Pittsburgh Taiko is offering several beginner workshops this fall. They’re designed for people who just want to give taiko a try, or folks who might be interested in joining our performing group. 

No experience is necessary! 

Taiko combines energetic hits with calm focus, balances group unity with individual expression, and requires both power and subtlety.  

Each workshop is a 3-hour introduction to taiko, including some taiko history and culture and focusing on hands-on basics. You’ll learn how to stand, how to hit, and some simple patterns that come together to make a percussion melody.  

Workshops are from 11 am to 2 pm at our studio in Bellevue. The workshops are designed for adults and older kids (high school or older). 

Our studio is a masked space, and unfortunately it is not accessible to folks who can't climb stairs.

Please read the information at pittsburghtaiko.com/classes before registering.

Sessions are $40 for the general public and $30 for JASP members and students. Registration may be completed online. The studio is located at 2 N. Balph Ave., second floor in Bellevue (map).

Concert #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in AMSTERDAM: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh-area theaters, August 9.

The upcoming concert #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in AMSTERDAM: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on August 9.

Starting in Goyang, and continuing through Japan, North America, and Europe, Jin embarks on a journey to connect with his beloved ARMY through his very first solo fan concert tour. Experience Jin’s one-of-a-kind music and performances from his August 9 show in AMSTERDAM - featuring tracks from his second solo album, “Echo”, along with his debut solo album, “Happy” - broadcast live on the big screen!

It plays locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson at 1:45 pm and 5:30 pm, and tickets are available online.

Annual "Ihaw-Ihaw at Halo Halo & Bake Sale" fundraiser for Philippine-American Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh, August 10 at North Park.

The Philippine-American Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh will present its annual "Ihaw-Ihaw at Halo Halo & Bake Sale" fundraiser on August 10.

Taste authentic homemade Filipino cuisine! Join us with your familiy and friends, and don't forget to pick up delicious desserts from our bake sale!

It runs from 12 to 6 pm---or until food runs out---at the Rose Barn at North Park (map).

4K restoration of 1957 Kurosawa film Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城) in Pittsburgh, August 9 and 10.

The 1957 Kurosawa film Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城) will play in Pittsburgh on August 9 and 10, the second in a series of five classic Kurosawa films at the Harris Theater July through September.

A vivid,visceral Macbeth adaptation, THRONE OF BLOOD, directed by Akira Kurosawa, sets Shakespeare’s definitive tale of ambition and duplicity in a ghostly, fog-enshrouded landscape in feudal Japan. As a hardened warrior who rises savagely to power, Toshiro Mifune gives a remarkable, animalistic performance, as does Isuzu Yamada as his ruthless wife. THRONE OF BLOOD fuses classical Western tragedy with formal elements taken from Noh theater to create an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Tickets for the film are available online. The Harris Theater is located at 809 Liberty Ave. in downtown's Cultural District (map).

Guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto in Pittsburgh, October 3.

Guitarist and composer Hiroya Tsukamoto will perform at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh on October 3.

Hiroya Tsukamoto (https://hiroyatsukamoto.com/) is a one-of-a-kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up the guitar shortly after.

In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. He formed his own group in Boston “INTEROCEANICO (inter-oceanic)” which consists of unique musicians from different continents including Latin Grammy Colombian singer Marta Gomez. The group released three acclaimed records (“The Other Side of the World”, “Confluencia” and “Where the River Shines”). Hiroya has released five solo albums.

Hiroya has been leading concerts internationally including several appearances at Blue Note(NYC), United Nations and Japanese National Television(NHK). Hiroya is a two time 2nd place winner of International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022.

“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” -Jazz Review.com

“The fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” -Acoustic Guitar Magazine

More detail will be available at uusongspace.com as the date nears.

Ticket information will follow. The First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh is located at 605 Morewood Ave. in Shadyside (map).

Umai Thai & Sushi coming soon to Bellevue.

Umai Thai & Sushi is coming soon to Bellevue. It will open at 172 Lincoln Ave (map), in the spot occupied by Thai Tamarind until it relocated to 513 Lincoln Ave., a few blocks away, and rebranded as Thai Tamarind Noodle & Rice in June. A menu is available online but the restaurant, which draws its name from a Japanese word meaning delicious, isn't aiming to open until the fall.

Fujiya Ramen to open location in Robinson.

Fujiya Ramen, a Japanese ramen restaurant located in Shadyside, is planning to open a second location in Robinson. It will be located at 210 McHolme Dr (map), in what was the home of the Sushi Atarashi revolving sushi restaurant from September 2024 to January 2025. Fujiya Ramen, says the official site,

is the result of a passion for Japanese cuisine and collaboration between father and son, Minoru and Zen Yoshida. Minoru worked for more than 40 years making delicious ramen in both Tokyo and its surrounding Japanese prefectures. When he began his business in Tokyo in the 1960’s, ramen at the time only cost $1.40. Minoru’s business has come very far as his dream of opening a ramen shop in America has finally come true. We hope you will enjoy our family’s authentic ramen every time you visit.

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶) soft opens in Squirrel Hill.

The Taiwanese fruit tea chain Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶) has soft opened its first Pittsburgh location. The US-based chain's Squirrel Hill spot is located at 5825 Forbes Ave (map), in what has been empty for a couple years but what was most recently Classic Lines bookstore. The soft open hours are 12:00 to 9:30 pm.

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 October 2024. Yi Fang currently has locations throughout California, the East Coast, and elsewhere in North America.

Travel Japanese Class with Japan America Society of Pennsylvania and University of Pittsburgh, five weeks from August 30.

The Japan America Society of Pennsylvania will present a five-session Travel Japanese Class at the University of Pittsburgh from August 30.

Planning a trip to Japan? Want to feel comfortable interacting with locals while traveling? Join our Travel Japanese Course, a 5-week in-person course designed for complete beginners. Learn essential phrases for greetings, directions, dining, shopping and more, all focused on real-life travel situations. This course is intended for those with no prior experience studying Japanese; if you have studied the language before, it may be too basic for you.

Taught by a native Japanese professor from the University of Pittsburgh, each 90 minute class offers immersive, conversation-based instruction to help build speaking confidence.

JASP Members save $25 over the semester, paying $125 instead of the standard $150. Register now and speak Japanese before you land

Please note, the class is intended for those with no prior experience studying Japanese. Classes are held Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am in 4130 Posvar Hall (map). Registration and payment can be completed online.