"Pittsburgh of China."

Thirty-eight years ago, Pittsburgh formalized a Sister City relationship with Wuhan, China. A September 18, 1982 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article records the signing of a friendship pact between Mayor Richard Caliguiri and Mayor Li Zhi.

"Japanese Culture through Video Games," April 9 at Pitt.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania will host Dr. Rachael Hutchinson and her talk "Japanese Culture through Video Games" on April 9 as part of its 2020 Japan Lecture Series.

Japanese video games have had a significant impact on the medium worldwide. Dr. Rachael Hutchinson considers how ‘Japan’ has been packaged for domestic and overseas consumers, and how Japanese designers have used the medium to express ideas about home and nation, nuclear energy, war and historical memory, social breakdown and bioethics. She explores how ideology and critique are conveyed through game narrative and character design as well as user interface, cabinet art, and peripherals. Ultimately, she argues that Japanese artists have expressed similar ideas in the video game medium as in older narrative forms such as literature and film.

The talk runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in room 232 of the Cathedral of Learning (map). It is free though seating is limited and registration is required.

Lantern festival (猜灯谜) at Pitt, February 6.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present a Lantern Festival (猜灯谜) on February 6.

Join us in the Global Hub for refreshments, crafts, and games as we celebrate the Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao, in honor of the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar.

It runs from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map).

Free Chinese, Japanese, Korean classes in Pittsburgh in February.

via Yoshimitsu Kurooka (Creative Commons)

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will continue to offer free Chinese, Japanese, and Korean classes at some of its branches in February. Check out the class information below in addition to its language resources on the shelves and online.

As the library notes: these classes are free; registration is not required; no materials are needed and nothing needs to be bought; new participants are welcome at any time; classes are for adults (unless otherwise noted) but well-behaved young people are welcome to join as well.

Community College of Allegheny County hiring Chinese instructor.

The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is hiring an adjunct instructor of Chinese.

General Summary: The primary responsibilities of the faculty are to teach and to develop the curriculum. To meet these responsibilities, faculty must remain knowledgeable about advances in their disciplines, in learning theory, and in pedagogy. Faculty portfolios will include contributions and program development and show evidence of ongoing professional development.

Lunar New Year Parade through Squirrel Hill, February 9.

via @Lunar New Year PGH.

The fifth annual Lunar New Year Parade in Pittsburgh will be held on Sunday, February 9, to welcome the Year of the Rat. It starts at 12:30 and runs up Murray Avenue from Phillips Ave. (map) to Forbes Ave.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) playing pretty much everywhere in Pittsburgh this week and next.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) is playing in numerous theaters across Pittsburgh ahead of the 2020 Oscars. A synopsis from the movie's official site:

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

Here is a list of currently-scheduled screenings; tickets are available online via Fandango:

• AMC Loews Waterfront: now through February 5
• AMC Mt. Lebanon: now through February 5
• Cinemark North Hills: February 3 through February 8
• Cinemark Robinson: now through February 8
• Hollywood Theater: January 31 through February 5
• Row House Cinema: now through February 6
• Southside Works Cinema: now through February 6
• Squirrel Hill Manor: now through February 6
• Tull Family Theater: now through February 6
• Waterworks Cinema: now through February 5

Pitt hiring Chinese-speaking Language Buddies, Program Assistants, for on-campus Chinese Language and Culture Summer Camp.

via lezlie-neo (Creative Commons)

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures has a number of openings for Chinese speakers for its annual Chinese Language and Culture Summer Camp: Language Buddies, Program Assistant, Cultural Activity Leader, and Physical Activity Leader. These positions are for Pitt students, so the job ads and application portals may not be available to the general public.

Tiny Talk with Karen Lue, February 27 at Small Mall.

Lawrenceville's Small Mall will host its next Tiny Talk with artist and curator Karen Lue on February 27.

Join us for a Tiny Talk and Micro Exhibit with Small Mall featured artist Karen Lue!

View and buy work by Karen and hear her give a tiny artist talk.

It's free and open to the public. Small Mall is located at 5300 Butler St. (map).

Asian American Leadership Forum Happy Hour Mixer at Yuzu Kitchen, February 26.

via Jorge Santiago, 2019

Downtown's Yuzu Kitchen will host an Asian American Leadership Forum Happy Hour Mixer on February 26.

The Asian American Leadership Forum presents Networking Opportunity Happy Hour. Come join us for an evening of fun, friends, and drinks! This is your chance to meet and mingle with local professionals across all environmental fields. Purchase of a ticket gets you a free drink and appetizers!