Hello Kitty Cafe Truck coming to Ross Park Mall, September 11.

via @HellyKittyCafeTruck

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Ross Park Mall on September 11.

Hello Pittsburgh! The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to Ross Park Mall on Saturday 9/11! Come say hello to us near Cheesecake Factory between 10am-7pm and pick up some supercute treats & merch, while supplies last!

Learn how we are creating a comfortable and safe environment for our guests and staff here: https://www.sanrio.com/pages/message-to-the-sanrio-community-about-covid-19

More information about the truck and its tours available via Sanrio. Ross Park Mall is located in Ross Township in the North Hills, just off McKnight Road (map).

2004 Thai film Tropical Malady (Satpralat) with ReelQ and City of Asylum, August 25.

ReelQ and the City of Asylum will present the 2004 Thai film Tropical Malady (Satpralat) on August 25.

‘Winner of the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and an official selection of the New York Film Festival, TROPICAL MALADY is the lyrical and mysterious new film by maverick Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Blissfully Yours), one of the most prominent young directors of the Thai New Wave. TROPICAL MALADY chronicles the mystical love affair between a young soldier and the country boy he seduces, soon to be disrupted by the boy’s sudden disappearance. Local legends claim the boy was transformed into a mythic wild beast, and the soldier journeys alone into the heart of the Thai jungle in search of him.

The movie starts at 7:00 pm and will be streamed online. It's free but registration is required.

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo debuts for Pirates.

via Japan Times, Reuters.

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo made his Pittsburgh Pirates debut on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, getting a pinch hit in his ninth inning plate appearance. Tsutsugo was signed on Sunday after spending parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues. By making his debut with the team, he is now officially the fourth Japanese player in Pittsburgh Pirates history, and the first in nearly a decade, after pitcher Masumi Kuwata in 2007, infielder Akinori Iwamura in 2010, and pitcher Hisanori Takahashi for nine games in 2012.

"Pittsburgh KPOP Party 2021" with 412 Ktown, August 27.

412 Ktown (Kpop Pittsburgh) will present "Pittsburgh KPOP Party 2021" on August 27 at Level Up Studios.

!!ITS FINALLY HERE!!!
We are finally up and running with our
kpop events once again after a long wait^^
come join us and dance the night away to your favorite KPOP songs
Music will be provided by DJ.Kidplay (Kpop dj on tiktok )
BTS , NCT , Way V , Exo , Black Pink , Aespa , Everglow and more..
To Enter the Event We recommend everyone to wear masks ( its optional to your personal preference)
THIS IS 18+ EVENT
****$15 @ the door (Cash Prefer) if not we have venmo & paypal **** and there is parking lot next to the dance studio plus plenty of street parking
For More info : Contact us on Facebook (412 Ktown) or email us (412ktownpgh@gmail.com)
Also , We will have our group wristbands for sale at the event ($5)
Hope to see you guys there ^^

It runs from 8:30 pm on the 27th through 12:30 am. Level Up Studios is located at 4836 Penn Ave. in Garfield (map).

Screening of 2019 Filipino-American film Yellow Rose, August 21 at Pittsburgh Philippine Center.

Screenshot: Asia and the Pittsburgh Philippine Center will present a screening of the 2019 Filipino-American film Yellow Rose on August 21.

Please join us at the Pittsburgh Philippine Center (200 Church St. West Mifflin, PA 16122) for an in-person screening of Yellow Rose (2019, Diane Paragas). A Filipino teen from a small Texas town fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while having to decide between staying with her family or leaving the only home she has known. Indie Wire notes that "Diane Pagras' film finds fresh ground to explore the price and the power of the American Dream, bolstered by country crooning and heartbreaking (and very real) legal worries."

The free screening starts at 3:00 pm, followed by a Q&A session, though registration is required. The Pittsburgh Philippine Center is located at 200 Church St. in West Mifflin (map).

New film starring Donnie Yen, Raging Fire (怒火), to remain in Pittsburgh through (at least) August 26.

The new Hong Kong film Raging Fire (怒火), which opened in Pittsburgh on August 13, will stay here through at least August 26.

Shan (Donnie Yen) is a highly respected hardline cop with a long history of success on dangerous cases. However, his past unexpectedly comes back to haunt him when a sting operation is attacked by a mysterious group of criminals led by Ngo (Nicholas Tse), his former protégé, a talented former officer who had once respected and admired Shan. However, a terrible mistake three years prior landed him in prison, quickly turning the once rising star into a furious man with a grudge, and the will to destroy everyone who had wronged him—including his former mentor.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. The theater is located at the Waterfront shopping center in Homestead (map).

"Japanese Action Comic Punk band" Peelander-Z returns to Pittsburgh, October 17.

Japanese punk band Peelander-Z will play in Pittsburgh on October 17. 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 were originally supposed to play here on April 28, 2020, but the concert was postponed. They will play at Club Cafe on the South Side (map) and tickets for the 21+ show are available online.

Pittsburgh Pirates sign Yoshitomo Tsutsugo.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed first baseman Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (筒香 嘉智) on Sunday, August 15.

Tsutsugo has had an interesting road to this point. The utility man, who has played both corner infield spots and in left field in his career, was a highly-coveted power hitter in Japan. In 2016, as a 24-year-old with the Yokohama Bay Stars, he mashed 44 homers, then followed that up with 28, 38 and 29 homer seasons over the next three years. Since 2014, his lowest OPS in a season with Yokohama was .900.

That drew attention from MLB teams, and he eventually signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on a two-year, $12 million deal in December 2019. He never caught on against MLB pitching, though. In 2020, he slashed .197/.314/.395 in 51 games during the COVID-19-shortened season. He did hit eight home runs, which was tied for the second-most long balls on the team.

He played for the Rays and LA Dodgers this season. Should he play in a regular-season game, he will be the fourth Japanese player in team history, after pitcher Masumi Kuwata in 2007, infielder Akinori Iwamura in 2010, and pitcher Hisanori Takahashi for nine games in 2012.

Kiku Japanese Restaurant hiring servers.

Kiku Japanese Restaurant, perhaps the original sushi place in Pittsburgh and among its oldest and most authentic Japanese restaurants, continues to hire servers for its location in Station Square.

Japanese Restaurant located in station square is now hiring for part time Server.

We are looking for experienced Front of the House professionals that are interested in assisting the resurgence of Pittsburgh's only established Authentic Japanese restaurant.
If you are passionate about food, beverage, and service we want you to join us!
Part-time positions available

Compensation: Competitive Wages+ Tips (average $20/h up)
Employment type: Start part-time (One weekday dinner and Saturday Dinner to start.) must be available on holidays.

Asian Lantern Festival at Pittsburgh Zoo, August 14 through October 30.

via @pghzoo

The Pittsburgh Zoo will hold its first Asian Lantern Festival from August 14 through October 30.

The Zoo will embark on a bold new adventure in 2021 with the opening of the Asian Lantern Festival at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, an evening experience that will shine a light on conservation, community, and diversity.

Select nights now through Saturday, October 30, the Zoo will illuminate the city with the glow of colossal, wildlife-themed, handcrafted lanterns.

These towering steel and silk sculptures will encompass three connected themes: the Zoo, our global species conservation partnerships, and Asian culture.

As dusk settles in, the lanterns will begin to glow. Revelers will stroll the winding pathways of the Zoo, pausing to admire the beautiful lights, experience awe-inspiring entertainment, and discover the cultural diversity of our region.

The Asian Lantern Festival is a family-friendly nighttime event that requires a separate ticket from Zoo daytime admission.

Timed tickets are available online, at $19.95 for adults and $16.95 for children, with discounted prices for zoo members.

I've written about paper lantern festivals before, and how Pittsburgh should host one on its rivers, most recently in December.