Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Korean movie The King's Warden (왕과 사는 남자) stays in Pittsburgh through March 29.


The 2026 Korean movie The King's Warden (왕과 사는 남자), which opened in Pittsburgh on March 13, will stay here through (at least) March 29.
In a remote mountain village of 15th-century Joseon, a humble headman, Heung-do, hears a rumor that any village hosting an exiled nobleman will be blessed with abundance and fortune. Hoping to bring prosperity to his impoverished community, he eagerly submits a petition to host one—unaware that his guest is none other than the fallen monarch, the deposed boy-king Danjong. While an unlikely bond begins to form between the dethroned ruler and the man assigned to watch over him, the quiet village finds itself drawn into the perilous undercurrents of royal intrigue—where loyalty and survival collide.
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2026 Chinese movie Pegasus 3 (飞驰人生3) remains in Pittsburgh through March 29.


The 2026 Chinese movie Pegasus 3 (飞驰人生3), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 27, will remain here through at least March 29. It is the highest-grossing film in China in 2026 thus far, and is the 10th-highest-grossing film in China of all time.
After the final stage at Bayanbulak, Zhang Chi (played by Shen Teng) is invited to compete in a brand-new event, the “Muchen 100 Rally,” as the head coach of the team. The once “wild” racer now steps onto the international stage. Facing a completely new course filled with top-tier competitors, Sun Yuqiang (played by Yin Zheng) and Ji Xing (played by Zhang Benyu) once again fight side by side with Zhang Chi. Powerful drivers such as Lin Zhendong (played by Huang Jingyu) are also invited to join, and a team built on top-level speed and shared belief is formed. However, Zhang Chi soon realizes that the true challenge does not seem to come from the race itself. Beneath the surface, tensions are rising beyond the track, casting uncertainty over their high-speed journey ahead.
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan, in Pittsburgh February 2027.


YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan will perform in Pittsburgh on February 3, 2027, presenting Tamayura: Echoes of the Soul.

YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan is a globally touring troupe based in Asuka-mura Nara Prefecture, a place well known by Japanese people as the hometown of Japan. Since their 1993 inception, with more than 4,000 performances across 54 countries, the work of YAMATO has brought energy and joy to thousands around the world.

YAMATO’s productions incorporate over 40 Taiko drums of different characters, sizes, and sounds. Their expert musicians train their bodies to the absolute limit to beat these massive instruments. While the acoustic pressure far surpasses what one could imagine, the ensemble’s acclaimed performances range from explosive percussion to delicate musical moments that offer a palette of meticulously crafted sound.

As the audience is engulfed in the sound of the Taiko—intense, sometimes sad, at times comforting, and even comical—they become one with the performers. People from all backgrounds gather around the power of Taiko, interweaving their lives and feeling the strength of one another’s passion and heart. Together, they create an unforgettable moment in which they feel truly alive.

The show starts at 7:30 pm at the Byham Theater, located at 101 6th Street in downtown's Cultural District (map). Tickets are available online.

Monday, March 23, 2026

2025 Japanese animated movie ChaO (チャオ) to have screenings at Row House Hollywood in Dormont, from April 10.


The 2025 Japanese animated movie ChaO (チャオ), which was announced earlier for the Pittsburgh area from April 9, will also play at the Row House Hollywood in Dormont on April 10, 11, 12, 15, and 16.
In a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, the life of mild-mannered office worker Stephan is upended when he is suddenly proposed to by Chao — a princess from the mermaid kingdom. With no time to make sense of what’s happening, Stephan soon finds himself living with the unpredictable, wholehearted Chao, and her sincere love begins to break down his emotional barriers.
There are multiple screenings per day, and tickets are available online.

Eastern Passage 东方之旅 coming to downtown Pittsburgh in April as part of Project Pop-Up.


According to the Pittsburgh Chinese Culture Center's newsletter, a retail store called Eastern Passage 东方之旅 is coming to the Park Building downtown (map), part of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's Project Pop-up.
Coming soon to downtown Pittsburgh! Eastern Passage 东方之旅 – a retail store specializing in Asian apparel, artisan crafts, and cultural souvenirs is scheduled to open in April 2026. Located in the historic Park Building at 355 Fifth Avenue, the store is part of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Project Pop-Up that will turn a vacant storefront into a vibrant cultural destination. We are particularly interested in promoting artworks and crafts by local artisans. Contact us for more information at [redacted].

匹兹堡市中心即将迎来新店开业! 东方之旅 (Eastern Passage) 是一家专注于亚洲服饰、手工艺品及文化纪念品的零售店,将于 2026 年 4 月下旬开业。 该店坐落于第五大道355 号的历史性建筑Park Building,作为匹兹堡市中心伙伴关系 (Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership) “快闪项目” (Project Pop-Up) 的一部分,我们将把原本闲置的店面转变为充满活力的文化地标。 我们尤其注重推广本地艺术家和与手工艺人的作品。 欲了解更多详情,请联系我们:[redacted] 。
The email address listed in the newsletter has a typo and is invalid, hence my redaction. Project Pop Up
brings vibrancy and innovation to Downtown Pittsburgh by activating vacant storefronts with temporary retail pop-ups, interior window displays, and artistic window graphics. In collaboration with Downtown property owners—and with generous support from the Hillman Foundation—the program invites entrepreneurs, artists, makers, retailers, and creative teams to transform empty storefronts into engaging destinations.

This initiative supports Downtown’s economic revitalization by providing low-barrier opportunities for creative retail, art, and cultural activations that contribute to a more dynamic and welcoming streetlevel experience.

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Katsura Sunshine's Rakugo, May 8 in North Hills.


Canadian rakugo comic storyteller Katsura Sunshine will perform in the Pittsburgh area on May 8.

Katsura Sunshine headlines Pittsburgh's newest comedy club experience for one night only!

A show of hilarity and culture in equal doses!

Katsura Sunshine completed his grueling traditional apprenticeship in Rakugo comic storytelling under the great Rakugo Master Katsura Bunshi VI in 2011. His performances have delighted audiences throughout the world as well as all over Japan. Sunshine has graced the Broadway stage with a different delightful Japanese story each month since 2019, at the famous New World Stages in Manhattan. Come for an hour of laughter and leave with a piece of Japan in you heart!

He will perform at The Comedy Bar @ Remo's in the North Hills (map). The show starts at 7:00 pm and tickets are available online. Please note, the venue has a two item minimum it charges on top of the ticket fee.

Café Filipino returns April 25.


Café Filipino, a family-style Philippine Cuisine Experience from the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, is resuming monthly programming from April 25.
The event is brought to you by Cafe Filipino, our initiative to feature talented cooks within our community and showcase their signature dishes. The plan is to offer this event by popular demand as a way for us to bring a consistent fine-dining Filipino food experience to Pittsburgh. This will be a periodic fundraising event to cover the operating costs of our Philippine Center and other Fil-Am PGH programs.
Dinners are held at the Philippine Center of Pittsburgh in West Mifflin (map) and tickets are available online.

ScottyCon 2026, the student-run anime and games convention at Carnegie Mellon University, March 28.


ScottyCon 2026, the student-run anime and games convention at Carnegie Mellon University, will be held on March 28.
Welcome to our sixth year of ScottyCon! We hope you enjoy CMU's one and only (and therefore best) anime and video gaming convention! We'll have a blast of events this year, ranging from panels, masquerade, artist alley, and much more.
Events include 14 panels, Artist Alley, game vendors, karaoke at night, a Masquerade, a manga library, and a performance from guest of honor Phoebe Chan, and more. ScottyCon runs from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm in the Jared L. Cohon University Center (map) and tickets are available online through March 25 (and at the door on the 28th).

Friday, March 20, 2026

ASIA POP LECTURE: "When Two Worlds Collide: K-pop Idols & Influencer Marketing," April 1 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Mathieu Berbiguier and his talk "When Two Worlds Collide: K-pop Idols & Influencer Marketing" on April 1, part of the Center's ASIA POP lecture series.

K-pop idols have long been perceived as the antithesis of authenticity, manufactured personas shaped by entertainment companies. Yet the global rise of influencer marketing, built on relatability and vulnerability, has pushed those same companies to rewrite the rules. Dr. Mathieu Berbiguier examines how Korean entertainment companies increasingly adopt influencer marketing codes — "authentic storytelling," mental health disclosure, and less scripted formats — to reshape the idol persona and deepen parasocial bonds with fans. Drawing on textual analysis and fan discourse, Dr. Berbiguier argues that the convergence of idol culture and influencer logics reveals less a collision than a mutual absorption, one that speaks to a broader, Euro-American-centered demand for authenticity in popular culture.

Dr. Berbiguier is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at Carnegie Mellon University. Since receiving his Ph.D. in Asian Languages and Cultures from the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Berbiguier's research has primarily focused on the nuances of K-pop culture, exploring power dynamics in fan communities and shedding light on how these interactions shape perceptions of authenticity in Korean popular culture.

The talk starts at 6:00 pm in 205 David Lawrence Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

2025 Japanese animated movie ChaO (チャオ) in Pittsburgh, from April 9.


The 2025 Japanese animated movie ChaO (チャオ) will play in Pittsburgh from April 9.
In a fantastical future, humans and mermaids share a troubled coexistence. Stephan, an anxious employee at a shipbuilding company, has big ideas to save the sea. But his life explodes into ecstatic chaos when bubbly mermaid princess Chao proposes marriage out of the blue. Between shopping sprees, giant robots, and actual fireworks, the unlikely pair flounder through their new romance and unlock their true feelings. Crafted over 7 years by the acclaimed STUDIO4°C and veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, ChaO is an inventive and genre-defying delight bursting with color and character. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, ChaO’s singular narrative is an ode to boundless love.
It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, and tickets are available online.