Korean cyclists raising awareness of "comfort women" in US bike tour will be in Pittsburgh on August 14 and 15.

Passing through in 2018, via 3A Project.

The 2019 iteration of the 3A Project will hit Pittsburgh on August 15, according to the itinerary posted online. The 3A Project is an annual nationwide tour by two Korean university students to raise awareness of "comfort women" and the contentious politics surrounding their legacy. The group is arriving in Los Angeles on June 24, heading east through the summer, and leaving Detroit for Pittsburgh on August 12. The cyclists have made Pittsburgh part of its national bike tour the last two years.

Kusama: Infinity screening at Mattress Factory, August 15.

The Mattress Factory, which hosts two permanent installations by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, will hold a screening of the documentary Kusama: Infinity on August 15.

Get to know the artist behind the polka dots. Join us for a special screening of Kusama: Infinity, a documentary that looks at the life and work of Mattress Factory artist Yayoi Kusama, the top-selling female artist in the world.

Along with the film, you can experience Infinity Dots, Mirrored Room and Repetitive Vision, two Kusama rooms that are part of the Mattress Factory’s permanent collection, and explore photos and items – think a polka dot chair! – from Kusama’s Mattress Factory installation in 1996.

Tickets are $20 for the general public and $15 for students and Mattress Factory members. The movie runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and the museum is located at 500 Sampsonia Way in the North Side (map).

William Tsutsui and "Godzilla on my Mind," 1954's Gojira (ゴジラ ) October 16 at Pitt.

Dr. William Tsutsui will speak on "Godzilla on my Mind" and introduce a screening of the original Japanese Godzilla film on October 16 as part of the University of Pittsburgh's International Week. A synospis of Tsutsui's book of the same name:

Ever since Godzilla (or, Gojira, as he is known in Japan) crawled out of his radioactive birthplace to cut a swath of destruction through Tokyo, he has claimed a place alongside King Kong and others in the movie monster pantheon. He is the third most recognizable Japanese celebrity in the United States, and his fan base continues to grow as children today prove his enduring appeal. Now, Bill Tsutsui, a life-long fan and historian, takes a light-hearted look at the big, green, radioactive lizard, revealing how he was born and how he became a megastar. With humorous anecdotes, Godzilla on My Mind explores his lasting cultural impact on the world. This book is sure to be welcomed by pop culture enthusiasts, fans, and historians alike.

The event runs from 6:30 to 9:00 pm in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room (map).

2019 Japanese movie Kingdom (キングダム) in Pittsburgh from August 20.

he 2019 Japanese movie Kingdom (キングダム), a live-action adaptation of the Japanese manga, will play in Pittsburgh from August 20 through 22. The movie will be released stateside on the 16th, though no longer appears to be playing from that date as earlier announced. A synopsis from the distributor:

Orphaned by war, a young boy and his friend dream of changing their fate and becoming the world’s greatest generals. And after his friend sacrifices himself to protect
the future emperor, the young boy’s path to greatness is set in motion.

Helping the King reclaim the throne puts the boy’s blade to the ultimate test as they go against deadly assassins, large armies, and the dangerous mountain clan.

In a country torn apart by war, only they can fight to unite the warring states!

Released in Japan on April 19, it's the second highest-grossing domestic movie of the year there. The movie will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront theater 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.

New restoration of 2002 Satoshi Kon film Millennium Actress (千年女優) in Pittsburgh, August 13 and 19.

The 2002 Satoshi Kon film Millennium Actress (千年女優) will play in Pittsburgh on August 13 and August 19. The distributor provides a synopsis:

Experience the gorgeous new restoration of what many believe to be Satoshi Kon’s (Perfect Blue, Paprika) greatest work, MILLENNIUM ACTRESS.

When the legendary Ginei Studios shuts down, filmmaker Genya Tachibana and his assistant are tasked with interviewing its reclusive star, Chiyoko Fujiwara, who had retired from the spotlight 30 years prior. As she recounts her career, Genya and his crew are literally pulled into her memories where they witness her chance encounter with a mysterious man on the run from the police. Despite never knowing his name or his face, Chiyoko relentlessly pursues that man in a seamless blend of reality and memory that only Satoshi Kon could deliver. Boasting countless awards, including the Grand Prize in the Japan Agency of Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival, which it shared with Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, MILLENNIUM ACTRESS is a must-see for anime fans of all ages.

The August 13 shows will be in Japanese with English subtitles and the August 19 shows will be dubbed in English. The Japanese-language version will play locally at the Southside Works Cinema and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, the North Hills and Robinson, while the dubbed version will play at the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, Pittsburgh Mills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Library orientations for new Chinese, Japanese, Korean students at Pitt: August 14 - 16.

The University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Library will host library orientations for new Chinese, Japanese, and Korean students from August 14 - 16.

Would you like to know...

• A librarian who speaks your native language?
• The difference between academic libraries in the U.S. and libraries in your home country?
• The many wonderful services that the library offers to help your area of study and research at Pitt?
• If so, please come to attend one of the library orientation sessions.

Chinese sessions:

• August 14: 11 - 12 pm
• August 14: 3 - 4 pm
• August 15: 11 - 12 pm
• August 16: 2 - 3 pm

Japanese session

• August 14: 2 - 3 pm

Korean session

• August 16: 2 - 3 pm

Sessions are free but seating is limited and registration is required (and can be completed online).

2019 Pittsburgh Chinese Culture Festival, September 14 at Mellon Park.

via @pghccc

The annual Pittsburgh Chinese Culture Festival will be held this year on September 14 at Mellon Park.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival celebrates the rich culture of China, past and present, through entertainment, music, art, food and exhibits.

This fun filled day includes: local performances, renowned UNESCO Masters of Arts & Crafts from Wuhan, China, food from Pittsburgh’s BEST Chinese Restaurants and exhibits of handcrafted items, information and much more!

It runs from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm at Mellon Park in Shadyside (map) and is free and open to the public.

(G)I-dle's "Senorita" at next (and final) K-pop Dance Class, August 10.

The weekly K-pop Dance Class at Yanlai Dance Academy will do (G)I-dle's "Senorita" for its tenth and final meeting on August 10. The class is held each Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, and the cost is $18 for a drop-in session. Yanlai Dance Academy is located at 2260 Babcock Blvd. in the North Hills (map).

GlobalPittsburgh Happy Hour with visiting Yasuda Women's University students, September 5.

Interior of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, from the 2019 Yasuda Women's University promotional catalog.

GlobalPittsburgh's next First Thursdays Happy Hour on September 5 will welcome students from Yasuda Women's University (安田女子大学) in Hiroshima.

In September, we will have special guests from Japan. The 43 students from Yasuda University will be study abroad students at the English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Their host families are also invited to celebrate!

Meet globally-minded people from Pittsburgh and all over the world to make new friends and learn more about different cultures at our GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays monthly happy hour. Bring your friends, family, and colleagues or come alone - we are a very friendly group!

A cohort of undergraduates has studied each fall at the University of Pittsburgh's English Language Institute since 2016.
The event runs from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Roland's Seafood Grill in the Strip District (map), and tickets are available online.

Chengdu Gourmet, Sichuan Gourmet, Umami, and Bae-Bae's Kitchen, NIcky's Thai Kitchen voted "Best" by readers of Pittsburgh City-Paper.

via ChengduGourmet.net

Some variety in this year's Pittsburgh City-Paper Best Of readers' poll.

• This year's Pittsburgh City-Paper Best Of poll featured a Best Asian Food category, with Squirrel Hill's Chengdu Gourmet taking first place, Banh Mi & Tea second, and Thai Gourmet third.
• Sichuan Gourmet was voted Best Chinese, upsetting perennial winners Sesame Inn.
• Umami was voted tops in both Best Japanese and Best Sushi over Nakama, which had received some notoriety for its annual victories.
• Bae-Bae's Kitchen was voted Best Korean, a new category for this year.
• Nicky's Thai Kitchen was voted Best Thai.