Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Taiwanese film More Than Blue (比悲傷更悲傷的故事) in Pittsburgh, from March 15.



The 2018 Taiwanese film More Than Blue (比悲傷更悲傷的故事) will play in Pittsburgh from March 15. The Osaka Asian Film Festival provides a synopsis of the film, a remake of a 2009 Korean hit:
It seemed like fate when solitary student Zhang Zhe-kai met a rebellious girl named Song Yuan-yuan. These two lonely high school classmates find they become inseparable when they lose their family but their connection blossoms into a beautiful relationship, not quite lovers but very dependent upon each other. She names him “K” and chooses the name “Cream” for herself. They live together and go to college together and eventually get jobs together at the same record company. They are the perfect couple. Things come to a standstill when “K” is diagnosed with leukemia but he’s more concerned about Cream and wants to ensure her happiness before his time runs out by helping her find love little realising she may have already found it…

A glossy remake of the 2009 Korean film of the same name, it proves to be a real tearjerker thanks to the persuasive performances of lead actors Jasper Liu (“Take Me to the Moon” – OAFF 2018) and Ivy Yi-Han Chen who sell the idea of fidelity and timeless love.
The movie will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

What is a Japanese Garden? at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, April 25.


Via Pittsburgh Business Times.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. will present Dr. Brenda Jordan and her talk "What is a Japanese Garden?" on April 25 at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.
Dr. Jordan will present an overview of the varieties of Japanese gardens through history, the concept of “Japanese garden” that spread outside of Japan, and give some suggestions for the types of plants and features that can be used for a Japanese garden in southwest Pennsylvania. She specializes in the history of Japanese art, particularly the paintings and woodblock prints of the 19th century.

Meet our speaker, and enjoy light refreshments at a reception before the lecture.
It runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and is free, though registration is required. The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is located at 799 Pinkerton Run Rd. in Oakdale (map).

Monday, March 11, 2019

"Learn to Play the Pipa (Chinese Lute) – 4 Class Series for Adults" free at Carnegie Library in Oakland in April.



The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's main branch in Oakland will host pipa soloist Yang Jin for a series of free pipa lessons for adults in April.
Renowned pipa performer Yang Jin will teach a series of 4 free pipa (Chinese lute) classes for adults beginning April 4. Pipa instruments will be provided during class. The classes, held Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM, take place:

April 4 Adult Lesson 1

April 11 Adult Lesson 2

April 18 Adult Lesson 3

April 25 Adult Lesson 4

Registering for one class will register you for all 4 sessions in the series. The class is limited to 16 participants.
Registration is required and can be completed online. The library is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map) and is accessible by buses 28X, 54, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, and 93.

Tickets still available for author Kevin Kwan and his talk "Crazy Rich Asians and the Power of Representation," March 22 at Byham Theater.


via @kevinkwanbooks

Tickets are still available for "An Evening with Kevin Kwan: Crazy Rich Asians and the Power of Representation" on March 22, part of the 2019 Pittsburgh Humanities Festival:
Kevin Kwan’s breakout debut novel, Crazy Rich Asians, has become something of a cultural phenomenon, topping bestseller lists worldwide, spawning two bestselling sequels and inspiring a #1 movie. Also the first romantic comedy from a major Hollywood studio to feature a lead actor and actress of Asian descent, the release of this film is now considered a watershed moment to many Asians and Asian-Americans.

In this interview, Kwan discusses the (unanticipated) cultural impact of his novels and describes how the climate in many industries, particularly entertainment, is already changing. Discussing the wide spectrum and multiple facets of Asians around the world, Kwan also explores the unimaginable wealth disparity rarely discussed.

Now part of a larger conversation, Kwan advocates the need for proper representation in society, as he says, “The more we demystify a culture and people, the more we relate to each other.”
The event starts at 8:00 pm on March 22, 2019 at Byham Theater. Tickets for the talk start at $25 and are available online.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Tickets on sale today for CMU International Film Festival; Chinese films Girls Always Happy (柔情史), Four Springs (四个春天) part of line-up.



Two Chinese movies will be part of the 2019 Carnegie Mellon University International Film Festival, running from March 21 through April 7: the 2018 drama Girls Always Happy (柔情史) and the 2017 documentary Four Springs (四个春天).

Bae, Kang, Choi, samgyupsal.



Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Bae Ji-hwan (with tongs) was doing some grilling at spring training the other day with infielder Jung-ho Kang (center) and Ji-man Choi of the Tampa Bay Rays (left).

Shaler Area High School Japanese teacher semifinalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.



The Tribune-Review writes about Steven Balsomico, a Shaler Area High School Japanese teacher, who has been named a semifinalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

North Korea Beyond Politics, March 8 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host its final panel session of this North Korean series on Friday, March 8.

Fate/Stay Night [Heaven's Feel] II. Lost Butterfly (劇場版「Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel]」Ⅱ.lost butterfly) in Pittsburgh, March 14.



The next installment of the Fate/Stay Night [Heaven's Feel] trilogy will play in Pittsburgh on March 14.
Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] II. lost butterfly is the latest installment of the beloved Fate series by TYPE-MOON. Audiences have been waiting for the dramatic and emotional second part of the [Heaven’s Feel] trilogy as our heroes fight for the Holy Grail.
It will play locally, in Japanese with English subtitles, at Southside Works Cinema and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson. Tickets for these 7:00 pm shows are available online.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

A Night of Gamelan, April 12 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Gamelan Ensemble will hold its annual A Night of Gamelan on April 12.
The University Gamelan Ensemble (Mus 0690) plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people, an ethnic group that inhabits roughly the western third of the island of Java. Gamelan refers to a set of predominantly percussion instruments including tuned gongs, metal-keyed instruments, and drums (as well as bowed lute and voice). Gamelan music is played as accompaniment to dance, drama, puppet theater, and martial arts, as well as for concerts of listening music. Gamelan is performed in conjunction with special occasions and to mark important life-cycle event.
The performance starts at 8:00 pm in Bellefield Hall Auditorium (map) and tickets are now available online.

WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring Mandarin-speaking Geography tutors.



Pittsburgh-based Chinese education and consulting company WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced openings for Mandarin-speaking Geography tutors.

Tickets for Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, March 29 through April 11, now on sale.

Tickets for the fifth annual Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival at the Row House Cinema went on sale at 10:40 am this morning. The festival features 11 films so far and a number of special events, and runs from March 29's Ramen Fest through April 11.


Monday, March 4, 2019

Lauren Yee's play "Cambodian Rock Band," with music from Cambodian-American band Dengue Fever, in Pittsburgh from September 14 through October 6.



The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has news of the 2019-2020 City Theater season, and Lauren Yee's "Cambodian Rock Band" is among the offerings. Yee offers a summary:
Discover Cambodia’s lost surf rock scene through the eyes of a young Cambodian American woman and her father, a Khmer Rouge survivor who begrudgingly returns to his home country for the first time in thirty years. This thrilling story toggles back and forth in time, as father and daughter face the music of the past. An intimate rock epic about family secrets set against the dark chapter of Cambodian history. Featuring actor/musicians who perform the show’s mix of contemporary Dengue Fever hits and classic Cambodian oldies.
There has been some interest in Cambodian surf rock music in recent years, with the 2014 documentary Don't Think I've Forgotten playing at the Row House Cinema, Hollywood Theater, and Melwood Screening Room in 2015 and 2016. Dengue Fever has played in Pittsburgh, too, most recently as an opening act in 2017.

Tickets are not yet available. The theater is located at 1300 Bingham St. in the South Side (map).

"Changing Relations Between Governments and Social Organizations in China," March 6 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Graduate School of Public and International Affairs will host Yijia Jing and his talk "Changing Relations Between Governments and Social Organizations in China" on Wednesday, March 6. It starts at 2:00 pm in 3610 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

"Xu Bing and Dragonfly Eyes: A New Interpretation of Reality in the Digital Age," March 8 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host MA candidate Tianni Wang and her colloquium "Xu Bing and Dragonfly Eyes: A New Interpretation of Reality in the Digital Age" on March 8.

Sunday, March 3, 2019

21 years of Korean Pirates.


Pitching prospect Byung-il Kim, (김병일) via 중앙일보.

Long before the Pittsburgh Pirates first started signing Asian prospects like Jung-ho Kang, Ji-hwan Bae, and Jin-de Jhang a few years ago, there have been some interesting intersections between the Pirates and Asian baseball. In 1965, the Pirates were set to tour Japan but the trip was cancelled that June, ostensibly due to the Pirates' "inferior drawing power" but in reality due to stalled contract negotiations with a Japanese baseball player. In 1975, the Pirates played, and lost to, the reigning Central League champion out of Nagoya, the Chunichi Dragons, who joined Pittsburgh in spring training that year. And, in the 1990s, the Pirates had a working agreement with one of the top pro teams in South Korea.

Japanese Pitt alumni to speak on "Careers in International Trade and Development," "Entrepreneurship in Japan" on March 5.



The University of Pittsburgh's International Business Center will host two talks on March 5 with Japanese alumni on the topics of international trade and entrepreneurship in Japan.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Forgot about Sumi's.


Photographs via @SumisCakery

How's the Tribune-Review going to write up "5 bakeries you may not have heard of but need to try" without mentioning Squirrel Hill's Sumi's Cakery? The only conclusion is that everyone knows Sumi's by now.



Sumi's Cakery is a Korean bakery located at 2118 Murray Ave. (map).

Friday, March 1, 2019

"Japanese Action Comic Punk band" Peelander-Z back in Pittsburgh, April 25.



Japanese punk band Peelander-Z will play in Pittsburgh on April 25. Wikipedia provides an overview of their live shows:
They perform on stage and appear in color-coordinated costumes, which they state are not costumes, but their skin. The costumes range from sentai style suits, to kimono, to rubber Playmobil style wigs. There is also a tiger costume and a giant squid/guitar costume to coincide with the song "Mad Tiger". Another aspect of their routine is their on-stage antics such as human bowling (diving head-first into bowling pins), pretending to hit each other with chairs in imitation of pro-wrestlers, and mid-performance piggyback rides. They often allow audience members on stage to join in on the fun, and often dive into the audience or hang from a balcony as part of their act.
They return to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2015, following a brief hiatus. The show is at the Hard Rock Cafe in Station Square (map) and tickets are on sale as of noon today; those under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Noble Asian Grocery opens on Saw Mill Run Blvd.


via @LiteracyPittsburgh

Noble Asian Grocery is among the new food-related establishments permitted to open in February by the Allegheny County Health Department. It is run by Burmese immigrant Ja Doi and is located at 2830 Saw Mill Run Blvd. in Whitehall (map). Writes Literacy Pittsburgh of its former student:
Ja Doi has lived in Pittsburgh for five years, and opening a small grocery store has been her goal for four of those years! We are so proud of her for working so hard to achieve her dream while raising her two young children.