1997 Satoshi Kon film Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) in Pittsburgh in 4K restoration, from October 3.

A new 4K restoration of the 1997 Japanese animated film Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) will play in Pittsburgh from October 3 through October 8.

“Who are...you?” Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol, makes a bold transition into acting, taking on a role in a drama that includes a disturbing assault scene, and even releasing a provocative nude photo book. Her dramatic reinvention grabs public attention, but also provokes unease among her fans, her manager, and even herself as she struggles with the rapid shift from her days as a pop idol. As a stalker begins to shadow her, a screenwriter and a photographer are murdered one after another. "Did I kill them?" Mima begins to wonder if a split personality is gradually taking over, just like the character that she plays in the drama. Then "the other Mima" the pop idol who was supposed to have "graduated," appears in front of her…

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

2000 Japanese film Battle Royale (バトル・ロワイアル) in Pittsburgh-area theaters, October 12, to mark 25th anniversary.

The 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale (バトル・ロワイアル) will play in Pittsburgh on October 12 to mark the movie's 25th anniversary.

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of visionary director Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale with a new theatrical release in partnership with Iconic Events. This special screening is presented in 4K along with a new interview with the screenwriter — Kinji’s son Kenta — sharing an intimate look at the forces that shaped his father and how they inspired his final film. Battle Royale is an intense and brutal story about Japanese high school students who are sent off by their government with three days to kill each other — until only one remains. With its blend of social commentary and high-stakes action, Battle Royale continues to influence modern dystopian storytelling and has inspired countless television shows, video games, and films, including the acclaimed The Hunger Games franchise. (Interview in Japanese with English subtitles)

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

1952 Japanese film Ikiru (生きる) in Pittsburgh, September 18 - 21.

The 1952 Japanese film Ikiru (生きる) will play in Pittsburgh from September 18 through 21, the fifth and final installment in a series of five classic Kurosawa films at the Harris Theater July through September.

One of the greatest achievements by Akira Kurosawa, IKIRU shows the director at his most compassionate—affirming life through an explora­tion of death. Takashi Shimura beautifully portrays Kanji Watanabe, an aging bureaucrat with stomach cancer who is impelled to find meaning in his final days. Presented in a radically conceived two-­part structure and shot with a perceptive, humanistic clarity of vision, IKIRU is a multifaceted look at what it means to be alive.

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

Tasty Noodle (西安面馆) opens in Squirrel Hill.

A new Chinese restaurant, Tasty Noodle (西安面馆), has recently opened in Squirrel Hill. According to its Instagram page, it officially opened August 1. It's located at 5824 Forbes Ave. Lower Level (map), a spot that has held a number of Chinese restaurants over the years including Jian's Kitchen, Northeastern Kitchen, and Lucky Nine.

September Book Club meeting, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, September 25 at Maridon Museum.

The September Book Club meeting at the Maridon Mseum will discuss Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi on September 25.

In a small Tokyo café, customers can travel back in time, but only for the duration of a single cup of coffee. Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that weaves together four unique stories of people seeking second chances, closure, and connection.

Please join us for all our upcoming in-person Book Club meetings. To register, or if you have questions, please call 724-282-0123 or email info@maridon.org.

The meeting begins at 3:00 pm. The Maridon Museum is an Asian art museum located at 322 North Mckean St. in Butler (map).

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from September 13.

Photo via the Korea Tourism Organization.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from September 13 through November 15, after finishing its most recent session on August 16.

Surf Poke aims to open in Shadyside on September 9.

Surf Poke, with a menu that includes poke bowls, bento boxes, sushi, and bubble tea, aims to hold its grand opening on September 9. Work has been underway at 5400 Centre Ave. (map) for a couple of years in what was a medical space on the ground floor of the Arlington Apartments building.

2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) in Pittsburgh area, from September 11.

The 2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from September 11.

The Demon Slayer Corps plunge into Infinity Castle to defeat Muzan. However, the remaining Hashiras and the Demon Slayers who survived Tanjiro's Final Selection are pitted against the remaining members of the Twelve Kizuki first.

It is scheduled to play locally at most area theaters, including the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Classic Mt. Lebanon, AMC Classic South Hills, Waterworks Cinema, GQT Pittsburgh Mills, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

10th Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival (第十届匹兹堡中华文化节), September 13 at Mellon Park.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center will present the 10th Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival (第十届匹兹堡中华文化节) on September 13 at Mellon Park.

The 10th Pittsburgh Chinese Culture Festival will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Mellon Park (1047 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232). As the largest outdoor celebration of Chinese heritage in Western Pennsylvania, the festival will feature authentic cuisine, spectacular stage performances, cultural exhibits, interactive workshops, and family-friendly activities. From traditional dance and martial arts to calligraphy, crafts, and kids’ fun with ice cream and bounce houses, this free event offers something for everyone.

The event runs from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm in the southern half of Mellon Park (map, not the half with the spray park and baseball fields).

2023 film Past Lives in Pittsburgh, September 12 - 18.

The 2023 Celine Song Oscar-nominated film Past Lives will play at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from September 12 to 18, part of the theater's The Immigrant Experience film series.

Subtle and moving, Greta Lee stars in Celine Song’s deeply human story of two childhood friends who are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).