Taiwan Aloha Hosts Rakuten Girls Cheerleaders Meet & Greet at The Block Northway, September 2.

Taiwan Aloha will bring the Rakuten Girls Cheerleaders to The Block Northway on September 2, ahead of Taiwan Community Day / Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Night at PNC Park on the 3rd. From The Block Northway press release:

Taiwan Aloha, in partnership with The Block Northway and Sesame Inn, is excited to present a special Meet & Greet with the Rakuten Girls cheerleaders from Taiwan. Fans will enjoy a short performance, autographs, photos, and interactive experiences with this internationally renowned cheer team.

Event Details:

• Date: September 2, 2025
• Location: The Block Northway
• Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

The Rakuten Girls, cheerleaders for Taiwan’s Rakuten Monkeys baseball team, have gained a global following for their high-energy performances and cultural influence. Their Pittsburgh appearance is expected to draw strong community interest, bringing together families, baseball fans, and members of the AAPI community, while also supporting local businesses at The Block Northway.

Tina Chuang, President of Taiwan Aloha, commented:

"We are thrilled to welcome the Rakuten Girls and share this cultural experience with Pittsburgh, in partnership with The Block Northway. This event celebrates community, culture, and local business."

 The Block Northway is a shopping center located at 8013 McKnight Rd. in the North Hills (map).

1962 Japanese film Sanjuro (椿三十郎) in Pittsburgh, September 4 through 7.

The 1962 Japanese film Sanjuro (椿三十郎) will play in Pittsburgh from August September 4 through 7, the fourth in a series of five classic Kurosawa films at the Harris Theater July through September.

Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Akira Kurosawa's tightly paced, beautifully composed Sanjuro. In this sly companion piece to Yojimbo, jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a "proper" samurai on its ear. Less brazen in tone than its predecessor but equally entertaining, this classic character's return is a masterpiece in its own right.

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

Casting call for Chinese speakers for upcoming student film We All Leave at the End of the Night.

An upcoming student film by University of Pittsburgh student Freya Norwood, We All Leave at the End of the Night, has an open casting call for three roles and is accepting applications through September 8.

Are you, or someone you know, a Chinese speaker in the Pittsburgh area who always loved the tale of Chang’e flying to the moon as a kid? Are you interested in acting in a student film and trying your hand at calligraphy? Are you prone to melancholic musings and enjoy sharing mooncakes?

There are three roles:

Chang’e 嫦娥: 18-22, female, Chinese, the immortal woman on the moon from Chinese legend, Chinese speaking role (long undyed hair preferable)

Leah: 20-23, female, a half-Chinese college senior split between enjoying time with her friends and missing her family afar, English and Chinese speaking role

Jiejie 姐姐: 20-25, female, Chinese, the playful but imperious older sister of Chang’e, Chinese speaking role (undyed long hair preferable) 

 Those interested should apply via this Google Form.

11 classic Hong Kong films from 80s and 90s in Pittsburgh, September and October, part of Hong Kong Cinema Classics series at Harris Theater.

The Harris Theater will screen 11 classic Hong Kong films as part of its Hong Kong Cinema Classics series starting in late-September.

• A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) - September 27 - October 1
• A Better Tomorrow 2 (英雄本色2) - September 28
• Peking Opera Blues (刀馬旦) - September 28 - October 6
• A Chinese Ghost Story (倩女幽魂) - September 29 - October 3
• City on Fire (龍虎風雲) - September 29 - October 8
• A Chinese Ghost Story 2 (倩女幽魂 II：人間道) - September 30
• A Better Tomorrow 3: Love & Death in Saigon (英雄本色3-夕陽之歌) - September 30
• A Chinese Ghost Story 3 (倩女幽魂 III：道道道) - October 1
• The Killer (喋血雙雄) - October 3 - October 7
• Hard Boiled (辣手神探) - October 4 - October 8
• Bullet in the Head (喋血街头) - October 5 - October 7

Tickets and showtime information is available online. The Harris Theater is located in downtown's Cultural District (map). 

English dub of 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海) stays in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) September 4.

The English dub of the 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), which which opened in Pittsburgh-area theaters on August 21, will remain here through at least September 4.

A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now he's faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs.

It is scheduled to play in Digital 3D, Real 3D, and Standard Formats in several local theaters at different points throughout its run, including the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill, the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Classic South Hills Village, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, the Waterworks Cinemas, the Chartiers Valley Luxury, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Robinson, among others. Tickets are available online.

Four Japanese animated films at Row House Lawrenceville for Takahata Week, September 26 - October 2.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville will present four Japanese animated films in "a celebration of Isao Takahata – one of Japan’s greatest directors/screenwriters" from September 26 through October 2. Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ), Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓), Only Yesterday (おもひでぽろぽろ), and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語) will comprise this fall's Takahata Week. Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Monroeville to soft open August 28, hold a Grand Opening on August 30.

Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Monroeville has announced its soft opening on August 28 and its Grand Opening from August 30. It is located at 1782 Golden Mile Hwy (map), in what was most recently Golden Palace Restaurant. 

I started my journey as a private chef, bringing the excitement of hibachi cooking directly into people’s homes. Now, I’m thrilled to bring that same passion, flavor, and fun to this beautiful community with Koi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar.

In the past, I’ve also volunteered my time and skills as a chef to support local events and help those in need. I’m new to Monroeville, and I want to give back to the community. If you’re organizing any volunteering events, shelters, or community programs, feel free to reach out—I’d love to help.

Soft Opening: Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 @ 3 PM

Grand Opening: Saturday, Aug 30, 2025

Oak Shopping Center – 1782 Golden Mile Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146

Grand opening Vouchers Valid only from 28th August to 5th September 2025

In addition to the restaurant, you can also book me as your private hibachi chef for parties and special occasions!

Visit Hiroshihibachi.com to learn more.

Please share this post with your friends and family—I can’t wait to serve you, both at Koi and at your own special gatherings!

The menu is hundreds of items long, consisting of a variety of hibachi items, poke bowls, sushi, rolls, standard Chinese and Thai entrees, boba tea, and more. 

'Our Robots Love the Dirty, Dull, and Dangerous!' An Ethno-Historiography of Human-Nuclear Relations and the technology of Distantiation, September 4 at Pitt.

via Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

The University of Pittsburgh's World History Center and Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Ryo Morimoto from Harvard University and his talk "'Our Robots Love the Dirty, Dull, and Dangerous!' An Ethno-Historiography of Human-Nuclear Relations and the technology of Distantiation" on September 4, part of the Industrial Heritage in Pittsburgh and Japan programming from September 3 through 5.

What is the ongoing global significance of the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima and its impact on Japan’s reputation as a leading robotics nation? Join anthropologist Dr. Ryo Morimoto (Harvard University) for a talk on the co-evolution of the international nuclear industry and robotics, from the development of gloveboxes and arm manipulators in the 1940s to modern applications of mobile robots—physical AIs—in the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F) and other radioactive sites.

The talk runs from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Fourth BTS film added to series playing in Pittsburgh: BTS 2016 Live The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue Remastered plays here September 24 and 28.

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A fourth film has been added to the series of BTS concert films playing in Pittsburgh-area theaters: BTS 2016 Live The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue Remastered will play here September 24 and 28.

The grand finale of “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” series by BTS, where the story of youth shines brightest— it’s . From the lingering tenderness of “Autumn Leaves” and “Butterfly” to the explosive performances of “FIRE,” “Save ME,” and “EPILOGUE: Young Forever,” the story of youth that defined BTS as we know today, is vividly brought to life on screen!

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

"Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival" at Carnegie Mellon University, October 1.

The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics’ Chinese Studies program at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh’s Organization of Chinese Americans will present the 2025 Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival on October 1.

Celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and explore culinary traditions from around the world at this vibrant cultural event!

Free and open to the public, attendees will enjoy live performances that showcase music, dance and storytelling from East Asian cultures. Sample delicious global cuisine, connect with the greater-CMU community and take part in a joyful evening of community, culture and conversation. All are welcome — come hungry and curious!

The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Cohon University Center's Rangos Ballroom on the Carnegie Mellon campus in Oakland (map), and is free and open to the public.