WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring Chinese-speaking Student Management Services Advisor.

Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting and placement firm WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced an opening for a Chinese-speaking Student Management Services Advisor.

Candidate will play a crucial role in shaping the global leaders of tomorrow while working to collaborate with a team at AHS to deliver exceptional American Chinese exchange programs. The Student Services Management Coordinator works closely with Chinese applicants and natural parents throughout their program to ensure that they have completed application materials and are well prepared to succeed while on the program. The coordinator is expected to cooperate with the AHS Team to develop new processes to achieve efficiencies and provide superior customer service to our students and their parents.

2018 Korean Food Bazaar (제23회 선교바자회), May 5 in Shadyside.

Look for the 2018 Korean Central Church of Pittsburgh Korean Food Bazaar (제23회 선교바자회) on Saturday, May 5, from 10:30 to 4:00 pm. The highly-anticipated annual Korean food festival is in its 23rd year, and is held at 821 S. Aiken Ave. in Shadyside (map).

Children's Day (こどもの日) at Carnegie Museum of Art, May 5.

"Children's Day Japan" (Creative Commons).

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania will host a Children's Day (こどもの日,kodomo-no hi celebration on Saturday, May 5 at the Carnegie Museum of Art.

Celebrate the children in your life by attending Kodomo no hi—Children’s Day—at CMOA!

The art and culture of Japan awaits your entire family inspired by this Japanese national holiday and our exhibition Hiroshige’s Tōkaidō Road. Learn about the traditions associated with celebrating the strength, happiness, and good fortune of children on this special day. Make flags decorated with spirited koi fish (carp), listen to Japanese folk tales and stories, see and touch a Samurai helmet, and try a traditional rice Mochi cake. View the prints and touch a woodblock in the exhibition and create your own prints that tell about a favorite journey. The powerful rumbling sounds of Pittsburgh Taiko drummers round out this fun-filled afternoon.

Kang Jung-ho has US visa, expected to return to Pirates soon.

Via Newsen.

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Kang Jung-ho has a US visa and is expected to return to the team soon, according to reports on Thursday. Kang, who exceeded expectations in his two years with the Pirates, has been away from the team for over two years following a March 2017 DUI conviction in Seoul.

Japanese garage-rock band The Molice in Pittsburgh, May 18.

via @molice.music

Japanese band The Molice will play in Pittsburgh on May 18 as part of their US tour. The band describes itself:

While many Japanese bands are the product of management hired producers and stylists, Molice are the band’s own unique brew of rock. Drawing inspiration from 70’s punk’s DIY spirit, 80’s new wave stylish power pop and 90’s unchained indies guitar rock, the band has hammered out their own sound. Their name draws on a number of musical inspirations as well- the Police, and the “mo” of Jim Morrison, Mo Tucker, and Morissey.
The band cites the Pixies, Police, and Doors as their main inspirations, but incorporate elements of goth, classical, dance, shoegaze,and post-hardcore as well. Listening to the range of music on albums challenges fans to completely define their style.

The Molice is joined by Y La Bamba, Garter Shake, and Boiled Denim. The show starts at 9:00; Howlers is located at 4509 Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield (map).

Artist Candy Chang in Pittsburgh, May 10.

Artist Candy Chang will speak at the Elsie H. Hillman Auditorium in the Hill District on May 10 as part of the Green Building Alliance Inspire Speaker Series.

We are thrilled to welcome internationally renowned artist Candy Chang for a discussion at the intersection of public space, emotional health, and community. A leader in participatory public art, Chang engages residents in a reflective process to physically create the fabric of their cities. Her Before I Die piece has captivated citizens in more than 70 countries, including Iraq, China, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, with other works featured in the Tate Modern and the Renwick Galleries. The evening’s MC Majestic Lane will also moderate an interactive discussion with local artists John Peña and Edith Abeyta.

Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple (文豪ストレイドッグス Dead Apple) in Pittsburgh, from May 2.

The 2018 adaptation of the movie and anime series Bungo Stray Dogs will play at the Southside Works Cinema on May 2, May 5, and May 6. The theater provides a synopsis of Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple (文豪ストレイドッグス Dead Apple):

Visa Info Mini Fair, April 27 at Pitt.

The Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, and the Pitt Graduate Student Organizing Committee will host a Visa Info Mini Fair on April 27 at the University of Pittsburgh. The session will information on immigrant workers' rights, changing from a student to an H1-B visa, and issues of relevance to the dependents of H1-B visa holders. It runs from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in room 407 of the Cathedral of Learning (map) and is open to the Pitt community.

Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians at Book Ends Book Club, May 10 at Carnegie Library - West End.

via @KevinKwanBooks

The monthly Book Ends Book Club at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's West End branch will feature Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians on May 10.

When Rachel agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick, what she doesn’t know is that he’s the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia. Thrust into a world of splendor, Rachel meets Nick’s formidable mother, who has strong feelings about who her son should and should not marry. Filled with humor and jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider’s look at the Asian JetSet; a depiction of the clash between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a story about what it means to be young, in love, and crazily rich.

Buddhist Society of Pittsburgh's Vesak 2018, April 28.

The Buddhist Society of Pittsburgh will present Vesak 2018 on April 28.

Hundreds of Buddhists from many traditions, and the public as well, will join in Pittsburgh's 10th Annual Vesak, a worldwide celebration which honors the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, the Enlightened One. Over the past 9 years, our gathering has grown to be a joyous occasion, filled with colorful flowers and the beautiful teachings and practices shared by many traditions in a collective Sangha ceremony.

This year's theme - Walking Peace Together - expresses the commitment shared by our various traditions to be peace, together, grounded in our Buddha Nature, especially in this time of great division in our country. Peace is the Path we walk in mindfulness.

Participants can help bathe the Baby Buddha, offering their prayers for peace within the water, which will later be processed to the Allegheny River. A shared service, held within the Allegheny Unitarian Church, will feature prayers, chants, Dharma teachings and practices from each of the local Buddhist traditions. The program includes a wonderful interactive song and mindfulness practice for children.

A festive procession to the river will follow, as we Walk Peace Together. Light refreshments will also be available for attendees. The entire program is free and open to the public.

The event runs from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, beginning at the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church on the Northside (map).

PrideStaff hiring for bilingual Chinese-English warehouse position in Pittsburgh.

PrideStaff has a new posting for a bilingual Chinese-English warehouse position in Pittsburgh.

Job Duties:

• Print shipping orders
• Pick orders from warehouse
• Pack orders for shipping
• Ship packages using computer and appropriate shipper
• Communicate with customers in China

Calgon Carbon Corp. hiring Bilingual Japanese-English Senior Administrative Assistant.

Calgon Carbon Corp., headquartered n Moon Township, is hiring a Bilingual Japanese-English Senior Administrative Assistant.

Calgon Carbon Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of granular activated carbon is seeking a skilled and qualified Senior Administrative Assistant who is fluent in Japanese and English.

Position Summary: The senior administrative assistant provides high-level administrative support to company executives by managing appointments, preparing written reports and presentation materials, handling information requests and performing clerical functions such as preparing correspondence, arranging travel, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls and scheduling meetings for executives. The experienced assistant is expected to interact with individuals in the U.S., internationally, and at all levels of the organization. The highest level of confidentiality and discretion is required.

Pittsburgh's 311 response line can now take calls in Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, and 13 other languages.

Pittsburgh's 311 response line can now take calls in Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, and 12 other languages in addition to English as part of the city's Language Access Plan, according to a press release by the Mayor's office on Monday.

The 311 Response Center is the City of Pittsburgh Non-Emergency call center that allows residents and non-residents to report varying neighborhood problems (potholes, traffic problems, graffiti, litter abandoned buildings and cars, etc.) and to provide city information to residents (City office contact information, hours, upcoming events or meetings, volunteer opportunities, etc.).

This plan is a transformational step to ensuring all Pittsburgh residents have access to the wealth of information and opportunities our city has to offer. With the increase in diversity in our city, being able to assist all residents and to provide access to all resources is a top priority.

7th annual Tomodachi Festival at Carnegie Library in Oakland, April 28.

The Main Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host the 7th annual Tomodachi Festival on Saturday, April 28.

Tomodachi is a Japanese word meaning “friends.” Help us celebrate the spirit of friendship through activities, art and food that showcase Japan, its people and rich history. Activities will include Kamishibi storytelling, singing and dancing, origami art, kimono try-ons, and Japanese inspired refreshments.

“Tomodachi Festival” adopts the spirit of celebrating children's’ happiness. Its takes a place in the Children's section in the Carnegie-Main in Oakland, and we design the festival joyful for all ages. Especially this year, Kamishibai Guys and Tomodachi Festival Ambassador are brilliant!

"Storytime: Chinese and English" at Carnegie Library in Squirrel Hill, April 28.

The Squirrel Hill branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host its next "Storytime: Chinese and English" on April 28.

Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in both English and Chinese. For children birth – 5 years and their caregivers.

It runs from 11:00 to 11:30 am and is free and open to the public. The Carnegie Library branch in Squirrel Hill is located at 5801 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by buses 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, and 74.

The Beauty of Chinese Dance, April 28 at Carson Middle School.

The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans will present The Beauty of Chinese Dance on April 28 at Carson Middle School.

This special performance presented by the OCA Performance Ensemble features classical Chinese dance performances, Martial Arts demonstrations, and Chinese Yoyo by the OCA Performance Ensemble, Friends4dance, Pittsburgh Chinese School, Win-Win Kung Fu Cultural Center, and Tzu Chi Academy. Prices: $5 Students/Seniors; $8 OCA Members; $10 General. Tickets available by mail and at the door. Contact info@ocapghpa.org for more information.

The performance runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Carson Middle School is part of North Allegheny School District and is located in the North Hills suburb (map).

HCL Technologies hiring Bilingual Japanese Product Analyst for position onsite at Google.

HCL Technologies is again hiring a Bilingual Japanese Product Analyst for a position working onsite at Google in Larimer. The posting, via Monster.com:

Billingual Japanese Product Identity Analyst is a full-time job through HCL America, Inc. onsite at Google Pittsburgh. This position requires entrepreneurial drive to contribute to the long-term growth of online shopping by performing in-depth research, analyzing product specification data, using highly technical internal tools and processes to manage and enhance a large repository of knowledge about products. It is part of a fast-paced environment, partnering closely with operations and engineering teams.

Upcoming movie Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern Part One (はいからさんが通る) in Pittsburgh, June 10.

The film adaptation of the long-running animated TV series Haikara-san ga Tōru (はいからさんが通る) will play in Pittsburgh on June 10. A synopsis from the distributor:

During the Taisho era of 1918, 17-year-old Benio Hanamura thrives on bucking tradition. As a boisterous and quarrelsome tomboy, Miss Hanamura leads a life of kendo and tree-climbing adventure with her best friends Tamaki and Ranmaru. Benio determines to find love on her own, though her family has other plans. Benio will encounter tests of love, independence, and friendship during wartime.

Tickets for the 7:00 pm show, subtitled in English, are available online. The theater is located at 425 Cinema Drive in the Southside, one block from the Hot Metal Bridge (map).

2018 animated film Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう) in Pittsburgh, July 22.

The 2018 Japanese film Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう) will play at the Southside Works Cinema on July 22.

2018 Hanami (花見) with Pittsburgh Sakura Project, April 22 at North Park.

Photo by Kazuko Macher, who placed second in the 2013 Photo Contest.

The Pittsburgh Sakura Project will host its annual hanami (花見, cherry blossom viewing) on April 22.

Come enjoy the Pittsburgh Sakura Project cherry blossoms in North Park. Meet near the Boathouse, receive a map of the planting area, take a self-guided tour, and have light refreshments. Meet other people who love cherry blossoms. Take photos (you can submit them to the 2018 Pittsburgh Sakura Project North Park Cherry Blossoms Photo Contest).

Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し) in Pittsburgh-area theaters, from April 22.

The 2002 Studio Ghibli film The Cat returns (猫の恩返し) will play in Pittsburgh for the first time since 2009 on April 22, 23, and 25 as this month's installment of the GKIDS Ghibli Fest. The distributor provides a summary:

In this sequel to Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical feline world and must find her inner strength to make her way back home. Walking with her friend after a dreary day at school, Haru eyes a cat with a small gift box in its mouth attempting to cross a busy street. The cat fumbles the package in the middle of the road as a truck is rapidly bearing down. Haru manages to scoop the cat away to safety. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely.

Strange behavior indeed, but this is nothing compared to what happens later that evening when the King of Cats shows up in a feline motorcade replete with vassals, maidens, and even Secret Service cats. In a show of gratitude for saving his son’s life, the king cat showers Haru with gifts – including a large supply of individually wrapped live mice – and decrees that she shall marry the cat prince and come to live as a princess in the secret Kingdom of Cats.

The movie will play at Pittsburgh-area Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, Pittsburgh Mills, and Robinson. The April 22 and 25 shows are dubbed in English, while the April 23 show is subtitled.

Legendary Women: Giō and Hotoke in Japanese Cultural History, April 18 at Pitt.

Hotoke Gozen by Kiyochika Koboyashi, 1897.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host Dr. Roberta Strippoli of the University of Binghamton and her talk "Legendary Women: Giō and Hotoke in Japanese Cultural History" on April 18. It starts at 12:00 pm in room 119 of the Cathedral of Learning (map), and is free and open to the public.

US premiere of Yabin Wang Dance's "Moon Opera," November 3 at Byham Theater.

Photo by Wang Ning, via Yabin Wang's Behance page.

Yabin Wang's "Moon Opera" will make its US premiere in Pittsburgh on November 3, according to the Pittsburgh Dance Council 2018-2019 schedule released on Saturday.

Yabin Wang is China’s superstar. One of the most promising and pioneering choreographers in contemporary dance in China, her work was commissioned by English National Ballet and was performed by the company at Sadler’s Wells for their prestigious She Said series. Westerns know her best for her incredible dance in the film House of Flying Daggers.

In her newest work, Moon Opera, she has collaborated with a multi-disciplinary team of award-winning designers and composers to unveil a dramatic modern-day story of an artist. Through the lens of Chinese culture, contemporary dance tells the story of a Peking Opera performer struggling between her dreams of artistic stardom and the harsh realities of maintaining her traditional role as a woman in society.

Tickets go on sale August 10. The Byham Theater is located at 101 6th Street in downtown's Cultural District (map).

"Storytime: Japanese and English" at Carnegie Library in East Liberty, April 17.

The next installment of the monthly program "Storytime: Japanese and English" will take place on May 16 at the Carnegie Library in East Liberty.

Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in both English and Japanese for children and their parents or caregivers. For children age birth – 5 and their caregivers.

It runs from 11:00 to 11:30 am. The library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Peak sakura season in Pittsburgh: cherry blossoms at the Japanese garden in Shadyside.

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom today at the Japanese garden at UPMC Shadyside.

“New Housewives” in Contemporary China: Through the Lens of Chen Hengzhe, April 20 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host Dr. Hua Huang and the lecture "'New Housewives' in Contemporary China: Through the Lens of Chen Hengzhe" on April 20.

Chinese, Japanese films continue in Pittsburgh through April 19.

The 2017 Chinese animated film Have a Nice Day (大世界) and the ten films comprising the Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival will continue in Pittsburgh through April 19.

"We pho realz": Two Sisters Vietnamese Kitchen coming soon to East Liberty.

Two Sisters Vietnamese Kitchen, a new Vietnamese restaurant, is coming soon to 216 N. Highland Ave. in East Liberty (map).

New Korean restaurant Soju now open in Garfield.

A new Korean restaurant called Soju has recently opened in Garfield. Named after the ubiquitous (and cheap) Korean alcohol, Soju describes itself as

Family-owned restaurant/bar featuring Korean-American Cuisine

and is located at 4923 Penn Ave. (map).

Asians and Asian Americans Uniting for Change, April 13 at Pitt.

Several Asian and Asian-American organizations at the University of Pittsburgh are collaborating to present "Asians and Asian Americans Uniting for Change" on April 13 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in room 407 Cathedral of Learning.

Exploring topics like Asians in Graduate Study, Asian Activism in America, Asian American Political Identity, and the History of Asians in the American Labor Movement.

CMU Summit on US-China Innovation and Entrepreneurship, April 13 - 15; International Career Fair on the 14th and 15th.

Carnegie Mellon University will host the 7th annual CMU Summit on US-China Innovation and Entrepreneurship from April 13 through 15.

The CMU Summit operates on a regular basis to host events ranging from tech webinars, tech talks, to Job Fair, and Startup Bootcamp. The annual CMU Summit Conference is one of the largest, top-tier Innovation and Entrepreneurship conferences held by university students in the United States. Each year, we host panel discussions that address cutting-edge issues in various technology and business fields. We also host the New Venture Competition during the annual conference, showcasing innovation ideas of high-potential startup teams. In addition, we provide financing and talents recruiting channels and mentorship programs for early stage startups, and pair them up with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors across the US and China.

Additional information about the summit and its panels is available on the official website. Highlights for the general public include the International Career Fair on the 14th and 15th.

Career Fair is one of the most distinctive and popular events in the history of CMU Summit. The world-class talents that CMU has nurtured will be gathering together to start the journey of contributing to the society and the business world.

Mental Health Awareness Session for International Students, April 16 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program and the Global Citizen Lab will present a Mental Health Awareness Session for International Students on Monday, April 16.

We would like to raise mental health awareness, discuss the stigma against mental health, and introduce you to different resources available on campus.

Snacks will be provided.

The event will start at 9:00 pm in room 630 of the William Pitt Union (map), and is free.

Poet Li-young Lee at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, April 26.

Via World Literature Today.

Asian-American poet Li-young Lee, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, will speak at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall on April 26. An introduction, from Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures:

Celebrated poet Li-Young Lee returns with a breathtaking new volume about the violence of desire and the peace of love.

The Undressing is a tonic for spiritual anemia; it attempts to uncover things hidden since the dawn of the world. These mysterious, unassuming poems investigate the human violence and dispossession increasingly prevalent around the world, as well as the horrors of growing up as a child of refugees. Lee draws from disparate sources, including the Old Testament, the Dao De Jing, and the music of the Wu Tang Clan. While the subjects of these layered, impassioned poems are wide-ranging, their driving engine is a burning need to understand our collective human mission. Read the title poem from The Undressing online.

Author Min Jin Lee to return to Pittsburgh in April 2019.

via minjinlee.com

The Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Series announced its 2018-2019 Ten Evenings lineup last night, and bestselling Korean-American author Min Jin Lee is scheduled to speak at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland on April 1. Lee read from her book Pachinko at the City of Asylum in February.

PACHINKO follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them all. Deserted by her lover, Sunja is saved when a young tubercular minister offers to marry and bring her to Japan.

So begins a sweeping saga of an exceptional family in exile from its homeland and caught in the indifferent arc of history. Through desperate struggles and hard-won triumphs, its members are bound together by deep roots as they face enduring questions of faith, family, and identity.

Single tickets for the April 1, 2019 talk will go on sale July 5.

Children's Day (こどもの日) at Carnegie Museum of Art, May 5.

"Children's Day Japan" (Creative Commons).

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania will host a Children's Day (こどもの日,kodomo-no hi celebration on Saturday, May 5 at the Carnegie Museum of Art.

Celebrate the children in your life by attending Kodomo no hi—Children’s Day—at CMOA!

The art and culture of Japan awaits your entire family inspired by this Japanese national holiday and our exhibition Hiroshige’s Tōkaidō Road. Learn about the traditions associated with celebrating the strength, happiness, and good fortune of children on this special day. Make flags decorated with spirited koi fish (carp), listen to Japanese folk tales and stories, see and touch a Samurai helmet, and try a traditional rice Mochi cake. View the prints and touch a woodblock in the exhibition and create your own prints that tell about a favorite journey. The powerful rumbling sounds of Pittsburgh Taiko drummers round out this fun-filled afternoon.

University Gamelan 20th Anniversary Concert, April 13 and 14 at Pitt.

Poster for the 1998 Gamelan Ensemble concert.

The University of Pittsburgh's Gamelan Ensemble, which "plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people" of Indonesia, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with concerts on April 13 and 14. "Gamelan," explains the Department of Music,

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.

Chinese animated film Big Fish & Begonia (大鱼海棠) in Pittsburgh, April 11 and 12.

The 2016 Chinese animated film Big Fish & Begonia (大鱼海棠) is getting a limited release in the US, and will play in Pittsburgh on April 11 and 12. A glowing Variety review summarizes:

In the history of Chinese animation, there has never been a film like “Big Fish & Begonia.” Certainly, precedents exist in American and Japanese cartoons (at its core, the film could be a cross between Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away”), but as far as the Chinese industry goes, this bold and breathtaking fantasy adventure stands alone.

WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring Chinese-speaking graphic designer (设计师).

Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting and placement firm WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced an opening for a Chinese-speaking graphic designer (设计师):

Cool Japan: Animation In Japan With Charles Dunbar, April 5 at Pitt.

The Pitt Anime Club will host "Cool Japan: Animation In Japan With Charles Dunbar" tonight, April 5, at the University of Pittsburgh.

Charles Dunbar is an anthropologist. He studies a lot of things, be it fandom, anime culture, the supernatural or mysterious men in blue boxes. He received his MA in Sociocultural Anthropology in 2011, after utilizing ancient Mayan techniques to hypnotize his department into believing that he was, in fact, the reincarnation of Victor Turner. His thesis, entitled “Pilgrimage, Pageantry and Fan Communities," was published soon after, and focused on anime convention participation, including stereotyping, spending habits, cosplay and con culture.

The event is sponsored by the Asian Studies Center and the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society. It starts at 9:00 pm in room 358 of the Cathedral of Learning (map) and is free and open to the public.

Matsuri 2018, April 10 at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Carnegie Mellon University Japanese Student Association will present its 8th annual Matsuri, "a celebration of Japanese culture and diversity," on April 10.

Enjoy a variety of foods from our food booths, and performances by student groups and members of the Pittsburgh community, while immersed in traditional Japanese decorations and festival games! Matsuri is the biggest event hosted by JSA. Last year, more than 600 people showed up to the celebration.

All proceeds will again be donated to Minato Junior High school in Ishinomaki, which was physically destroyed in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The event runs from 3:30 to 8:00 pm in Wiegand Gym of the Cohon University Center (map), and is free and open to the public.

2017 Chinese animated film Have a Nice Day (大世界) in Pittsburgh, April 6 - 19.

The 2017 Chinese animated film Have a Nice Day (大世界) will play in Pittsburgh from April 6 through April 19. The distributor offers a summary:

A hard rain is about to fall on a small town in Southern China.

In a desperate attempt to find money to save his fiancée’s failed plastic surgery, Xiao Zhang, a mere driver, steals a bag containing 1 million from his boss.

News of the robbery spreads fast within the town and, over the course of one night, everyone starts looking for Xiao Zhang and his money…

Liu Jian delivers a whirlwind neo-noir, cementing his place as a pioneering force in independent Chinese animation.

Fujiya Ramen coming to Pittsburgh, replacing Tan Izakaya.

via @fujiyaramen16.

Fujiya Ramen, with two locations in New York and New Jersey, is coming to Pittsburgh to replace Tan Izakaya. According to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on March 28, Tan Izakaya——which opened August 2016——would close at the end of March, with the ramen place taking its spot at 815 S. Aiken Ave. (map).

Author+illustrator MariNaomi at Pitt, April 7.

Author and illustrator MariNaomi will speak at the University of Pittsburgh on April 7.

MariNaomi is the award-winning author and illustrator of Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Resume, Ages 0 to 22 (Harper Perennial, 2011), Dragon's Breath and Other True Stories (2dcloud/Uncivilized Books, 2014), Turning Japanese (2dcloud, 2016), I Thought YOU Hated ME (Retrofit Comics, 2016), and the Life on Earth trilogy (Graphic Universe, 2018-2020). Her work has appeared in over sixty print publications and has been featured on websites such as The Rumpus, LA Review of Books, Midnight Breakfast and BuzzFeed.

MariNaomi's comics and paintings have been featured by such institutions as the Smithsonian, the De Young Museum, the Cartoon Art Museum, the Asian Art Museum, and the Japanese American Museum.

The event starts at 7:00 pm in the William Pitt Union's Lower Lounge (map) and is free and open to the public.

2003 Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) at Pitt for Spectacles Film Series, April 8.

The final installment of the University of Pittsburgh's Spectacles Film Series is the 2003 Studio Ghibli Film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) on April 8. Once a month, the Film Studies Program website explains,

Spectacles invites religious studies, cultural studies, and film studies enthusiasts to join together and watch a movie with religious themes. Afterwards, religious studies majors will lead an open discussion about the movie. And of course, there will be movie snacks!

Border Passages with Viet Thanh Nguyen, April 9 at City of Asylum.

Via Nguyen's Facebook page.

The City of Asylum will host Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen for a reading on April 9, ahead of his sold-out lecture that evening.

Join us for a reading with Viet Thanh Nguyen presented in partnership with Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures and the Carnegie Nexus: Becoming Migrant series.

“A major writer with firsthand knowledge of the human rights drama exploding on the international stage—and the talent to give us inroads toward understanding it.”—THE WASHINGTON POST

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen can’t remember a time when he wasn’t a refugee. When he was four, in 1975, his family joined the masses of South Vietnamese fleeing the Viet Cong. His first reliable memories began when his family arrived at a Pennsylvania resettlement camp and was temporarily split up.

Join Nguyen, author of The Refugees and The Sympathizer, Divya Heffley of Carnegie Museum of Art, and Patrick McShea of Carnegie Museum of Natural History for a live reading and discussion, followed by a hands-on workshop that layers passages of text with memories of what we perceive to be home.