Tickets now available for I Want To Eat Your Pancreas (君の膵臓をたべたい) in Pittsburgh, from February 7.

The 2018 Japanese animated movie I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (君の膵臓をたべたい) will play in Pittsburgh on February 7 and 10.

A high school boy stumbles across a secret journal in a hospital one day. He soon finds out the diary belongs to his classmate, a girl named Sakura Yamauchi, who is revealed to be suffering from a terminal illness in her pancreas and only has a few months left to live. A secret they share that brings their hearts closer together.

Tickets are now available online. It will play at the Southside Works Cinema, located at 425 Cinema Drive in the Southside, one block from the Hot Metal Bridge (map).

Japanese Conversation Table, November 2 at Pitt.

"Osaka, Japan" by Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons)

Pitt's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will hold its next Japanese Conversation Table on Friday, November 2. It's a chance for native Japanese speakers and members of the Pitt community learning Japanese to meet and practice outside of the classroom. The sessions meet in 244A of the Cathedral of Learning (map) from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on November 2 and November 30.

WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring bilingual English+Mandarin SSAT tutor.

Pittsburgh-based Chinese education and consulting company WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced openings for part-time bilingual SSAT tutors.

The academic support department of Wholeren Education is looking for talented, experienced tutors in SSAT for high school level Chinese international students in the US. We help both struggling and gifted students reach their full potential by supplementing the instruction they receive in class and guiding them toward study practices and aides that can help them excel. Tutors work with individual students one-on-one, though we occasionally organize group activities for students who are studying the same material. Most of the time, we provide our students with online tutoring unless the tutor is located in the same area with the student. Our team offers compassionate, motivating assistance to students, and we expect our new hires to do the same. If you have experience tutoring students, please submit an application.

2018 movie Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions The Movie: Take O (映画 中二病でも恋がしたい！ -Take On Me) in Pittsburgh, November 4.

The 2018 Japanese animated movie Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions The Movie: Take O (映画 中二病でも恋がしたい！ -Take On Me) will play in Pittsburgh on November 4. The Anime News Network provides a summary of the movie based on a manga series:

Rikka is now a third-year student, but she still has "chūnibyō" syndrome. University entrance exams loom on the horizon, and it's spring break, and Yūta and Rikka are together as usual. One day, Rikka's older sister Tōka declares that she's going to take Rikka to Italy with her, as Tōka is moving to Italy for work and she thinks they should move together as a family. Yūta understands Tōka's opinion, but thinks that at this rate he and Rikka will be separated. Shinka and the other members suggest that Yūta and Rikka should "elope," and thus sets the stage for Yūta and Rikka's travels throughout Japan in their escape drama.

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

Japanese-language yoga class in Shadyside, Saturdays from November 3.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Shadyside (map) will host Japanese-language yoga sessions on Saturdays, from November 3. The cost is $10 per session, and though reservations are not required they are recommended as space is limited.

Pitt hiring Assistant Instructor of Korean for Fall 2019 start.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring an Assistant Instructor of Korean for a Fall 2019 start.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh (http://www.deall.pitt.edu) invites applications for an Assistant Instructor position in Korea studies, pending budgetary approval, beginning September 1, 2019. The position is non-tenure stream with the possibility of renewal for a multi-year contract. The successful candidate is expected to contribute significantly to the Korean language program and teach language courses on all levels. The successful candidate should hold an MA in teaching Korean as a foreign language or in an allied field, possess native or near-native competence in all skill areas of Korean and English, and have at least one year of teaching experience at a North American institution of higher education.

The new hire should be prepared to teach classes for both undergraduate and graduate students. Instruction to graduate students may involve PhD and MA students whose focus may be on literature, history, art history, religion, anthropology, etc. Preference will be given to candidates who possess linguistic knowledge of the Korean language, and who demonstrate familiarity with theories in second language acquisition and current practices in Korean pedagogy in North American higher education settings. Any expertise in non-language areas such as film, popular culture, literature, etc. will be a plus. Duties include teaching both recitations and lectures of language courses as well as working closely with the language coordinator to contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Korean language program. The appointee should expect to collaborate with Asianists in other units (e. g., the Asian Studies Center) to promote Korea studies.

The application deadline is November 9; additional application details and requirements are available on the job posting.

Pitt hiring Assistant Instructor of Chinese for Fall 2019 start.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring an Assistant Instructor of Chinese for a Fall 2019 start.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh (http://www.deall.pitt.edu) invites applications for an Assistant Instructor position in Chinese, pending budgetary approval, beginning September 1st, 2019. The position is non-tenure-stream with the possibility of renewal. The successful candidate is expected to contribute significantly to the Chinese language program and teach language courses on all levels. The successful candidate should hold an MA in Chinese as a foreign language or in an allied field, possess native or near-native competence in Chinese and English, and have at least two years of Chinese language teaching experience at a North American institution of higher education.

Preference will be given to candidates who possess linguistic knowledge of the Chinese language and who demonstrate familiarity with current practices in Chinese pedagogy in North American higher education settings. Duties include teaching both recitations and lectures of language courses, as well as working closely with the language coordinator to contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Chinese language program. The appointee should also expect to collaborate with Asianists in other units (e. g., the Asian Studies Center) to promote Chinese language learning and China studies.

The application deadline is November 9; additional application details and requirements are available on the job posting.

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, as part of the city's International Festival of Firsts:

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.

The Byham Theater is located at 101 6th Street in downtown's Cultural District (map).

"Cherry Blossoms, Traditions, Symbols, and Stories" at Pitt, October 30.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Ann McClellan and her talk "Cherry Blossoms, Traditions, Symbols, and Stories" on October 30.

Author Ann McClellan will explore the images and tales associated with the ethereal Japanese cherry blossoms. People have celebrated the blooming of these trees for more than 1000 years, and today they serve as instruments of diplomacy, as landscape enhancements, and as eternal signs of spring and romance.

Ann McClellan is the author of two definitive books about the Japanese cherry blossoms including the official book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC.

The talk runs from 5:00 to 6:30 pm in 540 Cathedral of Learning (map) and is free and open to the public.

University of Pittsburgh hiring Chinese-speaking student to be Program Coordinator for Shougang Executive Education program visit.

The University of Pittsburgh is hiring a bilingual Mandarin-English student to be the Program Coordinator for the Shougang Executive Education program through the Katz Graduate School of Business.

The candidate will work closely with the Director of Operations to provide logistical support for the Shougang Executive Education program. The candidate will attend all academic sessions, all site visits and all meetings with the Shougang and WholeRen team. Where necessary, the candidate will provide verbal and written translation services.

Fluent in Mandarin and English (spoken and written). Experience in business. Must be able to attend all academic sessions and site visits. Must be able to work independently.

Crazy Rich Asians free at Pitt, November 2.

The Pitt Program Council and the Chinese American Student Association will present a free screening of Crazy Rich Asians on November 2.

Join Pitt Program Council and Chinese American Students Association in the WPU Assembly Room at 10:00 P.M. on Friday, November 2nd for a FREE screening of Crazy Rich Asians! We will be providing Asian-influenced snacks, and there’ll be a photo booth. Doors open at 9:15.

The event is free and open to Pitt undergraduates with a valid student ID.

"Somebody is Watching"—lecture on Koshikijima no Toshidon (甑島のトシドン)—at Pitt, November 5.

via satsumasendai.gr.jp

Pitt will host Dr. Michael Foster of UC-Davis and his talk on "Koshikijima no Toshidon (甑島のトシドン)" on November 5.

"Koshikijima no Toshidon" is a New Year's Eve ritual performed annually on the island of Shimo-Koshikijima off the southwest coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. During the event, men masked and costumed as frightening demon-deities enter individual households to "discipline" and "educate" young children. In 2009 the ritual was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This talk will introduce Toshidon with a focus on the way a structure of surveillance, of "seeing and being seen," informs the performance of the ritual and to a certain extent the everyday lives of the islanders. An understanding of the dynamic of this "optic imaginary" provides insight into broader questions of community, tourism, UNESCO, and the production of heritage in Japan and elsewhere.

The talk runs from noon to 1:30 pm in 602 Cathedral of Learning (map).

1934 Chinese silent film The Goddess (神女) at Pitt, November 15.

The University of Pittsburgh's Film and Media Studies Program will present the 1934 Chinese silent film The Goddess (神女) on November 15.

The November Pittsburgh Film and Media Colloquium will feature a screening of the Chinese silent film The Goddess (directed by Wu Yonggang, 1934). Released by the Lianhua Film Company (United Photoplay), the film stars Ruan Lingyu in one of her final roles. This will be a special presentation featuring pipa artist and composer Min Xiao-Fen and guitarist Rez Abbasi, two New York-based artists who have created a score to accompany the screening of the film. The film will be introduced by Kun Qian, Associate Professor of Chinese Literature and Film.

The movie starts at 6:00 pm in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium (map).

"Storytime: Chinese and English" at Carnegie Library in Squirrel Hill, October 27.

The Squirrel Hill branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host its next "Storytime: Chinese and English" on October 27.

Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in Chinese and English. 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.

Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) in Pittsburgh, October 28, 29, 30.

The 2001 Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play in Pittsburgh as part of GKIDS Studio Ghibli Fest 2018 from October 28 through 30.

Authoritarian Governance of Auyghur Autonomous Region in China, October 23 at Pitt.

The Global Citizen Lab at Pitt will host Sarah Tynen and her talk "Authoritarian Governance of Uyghur Autonomous Region in China" on October 23. The talk by a University of Colorado Boulder PhD candidate

explores state territorialization practices as crucial components in shaping everyday life. In particular, it asks: How do citizens experience state bureaucratic power at the neighborhood level in their everyday lives? What is the role of community participation in garnering regime legitimacy? The research draws on 24 months of ethnographic and interview data in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of northwest China. The findings show that the conflict between state control and social membership revolves around the negotiation for territorial control, especially when it comes to struggle for power over minority bodies in nationalist space.

It runs from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map).

Paul Tran, "Search & Destroy: Building a New Language for Freedom," at Pitt, November 4.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Student Alliance will host Paul Tran and their talk "Search & Destroy: Building a New Language for Freedom" on November 4.

The Pitt Asian Students Alliance is proud to present our first speaker of the 2018-19 academic year: Paul Tran! Join us as Paul leads a workshop titled Search & Destroy: Building a New Language for Freedom.

Paul Tran (They/Them/Their) is a poet, poetry editor at The Offing Magazine, and 2018 recipient of a Ruth Lilly & Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship. Their work has been featured in The New Yorker, Poetry Magazine, and numerous other outlets.

Join the discussion as they share their experiences of being part of the LGBTQIA+ community and the intersectionality with their Asian background! We hope to see you there!

The event runs from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the William Pitt Union Lower Lounge (map).

Pittsburgh Chinese School hiring teachers.

The Pittsburgh Chinese School is still hiring teachers for its numerous language and subject classes held each Sunday in Squirrel Hill.

匹兹堡中文学校诚聘有爱心和责任心,有教学经验, 并有工作许可的有关人士加入教师队伍。

岗位要求:
1、热爱中国文化,并有热情将中国的文化广泛传播。
2、喜欢孩子,有爱心、耐心,责任心,有亲和力。
3、普通话发音标准清晰,语言表达能力强。
4、有基本的英语表达沟通能力。
5、有中文教学经验,尤其是有中小学教学经验者优先。
6、有教育或中文相关学历者优先。
7、文艺课教师有相关学历或工作经验者优先。

Mongolian-inspired "nomadic folk metal" band Tengger Cavalry in Pittsburgh, November 27.

Mongolian-inspired "nomadic folk metal" band Tengger Cavalry will play Spirit Lounge on November 27.

Tengger Cavalry, or "the army of sky god", is not only a Billboard-featured metal band, but also a symbol of nomadic warrior spirit that connects fans from all over the world. With a mix of throat singing, Mongolian fiddle and Central Asian instruments, the band performed a sold out concert at Carnegie Hall and featured in CNN, New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Local Asian-Appalachian folk music group Appalasia will open. Tickets for the 7:00 pm show are available online. Spirit is located at 242 51st St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Japan Exchange & Teaching Program (JET) Information Session, October 23 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and the Pittsburgh JET Alumni Association will host a Japan Exchange & Teaching Program Information Session on October 23.

Are you graduating soon? Thinking about the future? Come to the Japan Exchange & Teaching Program information session to find out if this program could be your next adventure! If you're at all interested in working abroad in Japan, this is a great opportunity for you! Positions are available as Assistant Language Teachers or as Coordinators for International Relations. Pittsburgh JET Alumni Association's President, Smitha Prasadh, will be leading the session and a panel of alumni will be available to answer questions.

The event starts at 5:00 pm in 4217 Posvar Hall (map).

Documentary Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki (終わらない人 宮崎駿) in Pittsburgh area, December 13 and 18.

Tickets went on sale today for the US premiere of the 2016 documentary, Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki, which will play locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson on December 13 and 18. A summary from the distributor:

In 2013, Academy Award®-winning film director and animator Hayao Miyazaki suddenly announced his retirement at the age of 72. But he can’t shake his burning desire to create. After an encounter with young CGI animators, Miyazaki embarks on a new project to utilize CGI for the first time ever. But the artist, who has been adamant about hand-drawn animation, confronts many challenges that threaten to cancel the film. Can an old master who thinks he’s past his prime shine once again? This program goes behind the scenes over two years as Miyazaki overcomes struggles to create his short film Boro the Caterpillar using CGI.

The shows are in Japanese with English subtitles, and tickets are available online.

WholeRen's American Homestay Services (美国寄宿家庭服务中心) hiring bilingual Mandarin-English Biology instructional coordinator.

American Homestay Services (美国寄宿家庭服务中心), a branch of the Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consultancy company WholeRen Education, is hiring a bilingual instructional coordinator for Chinese students studying Biology in the US.

2019 Pittsburgh Humanities Festival to feature Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan, "Crazy Rich Asians and the Power of Representation."

via @kevinkwanbooks

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes today that the 2019 Pittsburgh Humanities Festival will feature Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan. The festival introduces "An Evening with Kevin Kwan: Crazy Rich Asians and the Power of Representation":

Kevin Kwan’s breakout debut novel, Crazy Rich Asians, has become something of a cultural phenomenon, topping bestseller lists worldwide, spawning two bestselling sequels and inspiring a #1 movie. Also the first romantic comedy from a major Hollywood studio to feature a lead actor and actress of Asian descent, the release of this film is now considered a watershed moment to many Asians and Asian-Americans.

In this interview, Kwan discusses the (unanticipated) cultural impact of his novels and describes how the climate in many industries, particularly entertainment, is already changing. Discussing the wide spectrum and multiple facets of Asians around the world, Kwan also explores the unimaginable wealth disparity rarely discussed.

Asian Film and Family Film Screenings and Discussion, October 21 at Pitt.

via Hankook Ilbo.

The University of Pittsburgh's Alumni Association will host "Asian Film and Family Film Screenings and Discussion" on October 21.

Plan to attend a captivating screening of three short films that poignantly and candidly depict modern Asian family life. The lens through which each of us sees “family” is unique to our own personal experiences and is strongly influenced by the cultures in which we live. This cross-cultural presentation will enlighten participants on the differences and similarities we share when it comes to the human concept of family. The subject matter of the films may not be appropriate for children.

After the screening, Meghan Hynson from the Department of Music will do a hands-on demonstration and talk on the Indonesian angklung, a small, portable bamboo rattle that is pitched to the Western scale and played by shaking.

The cost is $20 per person and will include an alumni and friends networking reception.

It runs from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Frick Fine Arts Cloisters (map). Registration and payment may be completed online.

All-you-can-eat sushi place opens in Robinson.

Sushi Bomb recently opened across from The Mall at Robinson, offering all-you-can-eat sushi. It replaces York Buffet and the short-lived Sushi Cho, both of which are part of a recent spree of Asian buffet closings that includes Dynasty in Cranberry, Old Town Buffet in the South Hills, and TJ Buffet in the North Hills.

New Pokemon movie The Power of Us (劇場版ポケットモンスター みんなの物語) around Pittsburgh in November.

The latest Pokemon movie The Power of Us (劇場版ポケットモンスター みんなの物語) will play in the Pittsburgh area from November 24. The distributor provides a summary:

A young athlete whose running days might be behind her, a compulsive liar, a shy researcher, a bitter old woman, and a little girl with a big secret—the only thing they have in common is the annual Wind Festival in Fula City.

The festival celebrates the Legendary Pokémon Lugia, who brings the wind that powers this seaside city. When a series of threats endangers not just the festival, but all the people and Pokémon of Fula City, it’ll take more than just Ash and Pikachu to save the day! Can everyone put aside their differences and work together—or will it all end in destruction?

The movie plays in English on November 24, 26, 28, and December 1 at Southside Works, AMC Loews Waterfront, and the Cinemark Theaters in Monroeville, Pittsburgh Mills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Japanese Conversation Table, October 19 at Pitt.

"Osaka, Japan" by Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons)

Pitt's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will hold its next Japanese Conversation Table on Friday, October 19. It's a chance for native Japanese speakers and members of the Pitt community learning Japanese to meet and practice outside of the classroom. The sessions meet in 244A of the Cathedral of Learning (map) from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on October 19, November 2, and November 30.

"Comfort Women: The Legacy of Sexual Slavery in Asia," October 19 and 20 at Pitt.

Twenty Two, by Guo Ke, screens on October 19.

The Allegheny County Bar Association and the University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present a "Comfort Women: The Legacy of Sexual Slavery in Asia" conference on October 19 and 20.

As a collaborative partnership between the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Asian Studies Center, the Comfort Women: The Legacy of Sexual Slavery in Asia conference will focus on the historical and legal aspects of sexual enslavement of women by the military in the years before and during World War II. Reaching beyond the actual historical events, the conference will explore the reasons for the long silence and how performance practices—protests, tribunals, theater, and memorial building projects are used to demand justice for those who suffered the state-sponsored acts of sexual violence both in Asia and here in America. The conference provides the framework for understanding how actions designed to bring about redress can shift from the legal aspects to its cultural and social possibilities.

2018 movie Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions The Movie: Take O (映画 中二病でも恋がしたい！ -Take On Me) in Pittsburgh, November 4.

The 2018 Japanese animated movie Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions The Movie: Take O (映画 中二病でも恋がしたい！ -Take On Me) will play in Pittsburgh on November 4.

The Vertical Ray of the Sun (Mùa hè chiều thẳng đứng) at Maridon Museum, October 25.

The next installment of this fall's film series at the Maridon Museum is the 2000 Vietnamese film The Vertical Ray of the Sun (Mùa hè chiều thẳng đứng) on October 25.

UPMC hiring bilingual Mandarin(or Cantonese)-English administrative assistant in Squirrel Hill.

UPMC is hiring a bilingual Chinese-English administrative assistant for an office in Squirrel Hill.

University of Pittsburgh Physicians is seeking a full-time Administrative Assistant - Associate to support the Department of Family Medicine at the UPMC Squirrel Hill Family Practice in the Wilkins Building!

Under direct supervision, the Associate Administrative Assistant provides general administrative support to a department or group of professionals.

The ideal candidate for this position will be bilingual, specifically being fluent in both English and Mandarin (or Cantonese). This position includes, but is not limited to, helping patients understand directions/information and scheduling patient appointments.

More information, and application instructions, available at the job posting on UPMC's website.

The Journey of a North Korean Refugee, October 16 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Students Alliance and Liberty in North Korea chapter will present "The Journey of a North Korean Refugee" on Tuesday, October 16.

University of Pittsburgh: International Week 10/13-10/20 - The Asian Students Alliance and Pitt Liberty in North Korea will be presenting a guided audio-visual tour through the life of a North Korean refugee in three parts: oppression in North Korea, escape, and life after. Every year, thousands of North Koreans risk their lives to escape political and economic oppression. We hope that through this event you can catch a glimpse of the 3000 mile journey that these North Korean refugees undergo.

It runs from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the William Pitt Union's Lower Lounge (map).

ASPIRE Pathway (辅道教育) / WholeRen Education hiring Chinese-speaking Geography, Anatomy online tutors (在线辅导老师).

ASPIRE Pathway (辅道教育), a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting group WholeRen Education, is hiring online Chinese-speaking Geography and Anatomy tutors for Chinese students at American universities.

职位: 解剖学在线辅导老师

职位描述:
1. 为在校生提供网络辅导,根据学生现有的学习情况和辅导需求制定教学计划和内容,并实施教学;
2. 跟进学生学习情况,及时与学生、家长进行沟通;
3. 熟悉掌握专业理论,能够针对学生个体的不同需求设计出适合学生的教学方案;

任职要求:
1. 相关专业本科以上学历。
2. 优秀的英语听说读写能力,具有批判性思维,良好的表达能力和较强的问题处理能力

3. 有工作许可,可支持办理CPT、OPT。

4. 中英双语优秀

New Chinese movie Lost, Found (找到你) in Pittsburgh, from October 12.

The 2018 Chinese movie Lost, Found (找到你) will play in Pittsburgh from October 12. Writes The Hollywood Reporter,

Yao Chen and Ma Yili electrify the twin dramas of an abducted child and a sick little girl.

Tickets are available online, via Fandango. 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.

Chinese movie Hello, Mrs. Money (李茶的姑妈) in Pittsburgh, through October 11.

The new Chinese movie Hello, Mrs. Money (李茶的姑妈) will continue in Pittsburgh through October 11.

Adopted from the stage show of the same name, Hello, Mrs. Money tells the story of Li Cha, a poor guy, and his billionaire auntie. To win the heart of his beloved girl who likes money, Li Cha asks his billionaire aunt to help.

Tickets are available online via Fandango.

Korean drumming group Tago (타고) in Pittsburgh, October 18.

via @TAGOpage

Korean drumming group Tago (타고) will perform in Pittsburgh on October 18, part of the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts.

"Tago" means lighting up the world by beating drums. Tago creates shows based on a theme of "Buk," a Korean traditional drum. They play a mixture of Korean traditional instruments - from gigantic drums to small percussion - with martial arts movements. The music is sexy, intense, and sophisticated. Tago tries to make music which lasts long in people's hearts and memories.

Tago will perform at the Byham Theater at 8:00 pm. Tickets are now on sale starting at $25.

"Red China's Green Revolution," October 10 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Joshua Eisenman and his lecture "Red China's Green Revolution" on October 10.

Joshua Eisenman’s (马佳士) research focuses on the political economy of China's development and its foreign relations with the United States and the developing world—particularly Africa. His work has been published in top academic journals including World Development, Development and Change, Journal of Contemporary China and Cold War History, and in popular outlets such as Foreign Affairs, The Wall Street Journal and Foreign Policy. His views have been cited in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist and The New Republic.

Professor Eisenman's newest book, "Red China’s Green Revolution: Technological Innovation, Institutional Change, and Economic Development Under the Commune" (Columbia University Press, 2018), explains how more capital investment and better farming techniques increased agricultural productivity growth in Maoist China. In "China Steps Out: Beijing’s Major Power Engagement with the Developing World" (Routledge, 2018), he worked with Eric Heginbotham to analyze China’s policies toward the developing world. His second book, "China and Africa: A Century of Engagement" (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012), co-authored with David Shinn, was named one of the top three books about Africa by Foreign Affairs. Their next volume, under advance contract with the University of Pennsylvania Press, will examine the China-Africa political and security relationship.

The event runs from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in 3703 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) at Pitt, October 17.

The 1997 film Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) will play at the University of Pittsburgh on October 17 as part of the occasional Spectacles Film Series, presented by the Department of Religious Studies. A 1999 Roger Ebert four-star review summarizes:

Hayao Miyazaki is a great animator, and his "Princess Mononoke" is a great film. Do not allow conventional thoughts about animation to prevent you from seeing it. It tells an epic story set in medieval Japan, at the dawn of the Iron Age, when some men still lived in harmony with nature and others were trying to tame and defeat it. It is not a simplistic tale of good and evil, but the story of how humans, forest animals and nature gods all fight for their share of the new emerging order. It is one of the most visually inventive films I have ever seen.

The event starts at 6:00 pm in 120 Lawrence Hall (map).

Love in the 1980s (1980年代的愛情), October 11 at Maridon Museum.

The next installment of this fall's film series at the Maridon Museum is the 2015 Chinese movie 1980年代的愛情. A Film Business Asia review provides an overview:

Gongmu township, central China, autumn 1982. After graduating from university, and as part of his "grassroots" government training, Guan Yubo (Lu Fangsheng) is assigned to the remote, mountainous township of the Tujia ethnic minority to work as its publicity/education officer. Xiang Yu'e (Li Shutong), his girlfriend from college, has to remain in the city. Yubo works directly under the mayor, whose current government challenge is to meet birth-control quotas. Feeling lonely, Yubo befriends an old cook, Tian, who used to be a teacher but whose career was destroyed by an anti-rightist campaign. One day Yubo bumps into his secret first love from high school, Cheng Liwen (Yang Caiyu), who happens to be in the township working in a local shop. She's polite but uncommunicative. Unlike Yubo, she didn't manage to get into university, due to her family's political problems. Later, the two of them visit her father, who now lives alone in the mountains, making wooden birdcages. Gradually the two grow close but then, after six months, Yubo's term of service ends and it comes time for him to leave.

The movie starts at 6:00 pm and is free and open to the public, though reservations are required to be made by phone: 724-282-0123. The Maridon Museum is an Asian art museum at 322 N. McKean St. in downtown Butler (map) that runs film series periodically throughout the year, in addition to art classes, book club meetings, and its regular exhibits.

Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) playing in Pittsburgh, October 28, 29, 30.

The 2001 Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play in Pittsburgh as part of GKIDS Studio Ghibli Fest 2018 from October 28 through 30.

Japanese Conversation Tables at Pitt, starting October 5.

"Osaka, Japan" by Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons)

Pitt's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will begin its Japanese Conversation Tables today. It's a chance for native Japanese speakers and members of the Pitt community learning Japanese to meet and practice outside of the classroom. The sessions meet in 244A of the Cathedral of Learning (map) from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on October 5, October 19, November 2, and November 30.

Vietnamese coffee with Art Labor, a Ho Chi Minh City-based artist collective, October 13 at CMOA.

Hammock Café in Seoul, via artlaborcollective.com.

As part of the opening celebration for the 2018 Carnegie International on October 13, the Carnegie Museum of Art will host Vietnamese coffee with Art Labor, a participant in this year's exhibition.

Art Labor is an artist collective based in Ho Chi Minh City, who work in between visual arts, social and life sciences in various public contexts and locales. We do not produce single artwork but develop many-year-long journey during which one inspiration is a seed to cultivate. The seed grows – the inspiration expands and bears into rhizome of projects and artworks.

The artists introduce their Hammock Café installation:

Jrai Dew hammock café is part of Art Labor’s long-term project ‘Jrai Dew’, which projects critically the cost of capitalized world through mythic narratives. It takes inspiration from Jarai belief in the human and the cosmos. In their philosophy, being human is a part of the metamorphosis cycle of the nature. After death, the journey going back to their origin ends at becoming dew (ia ngôm in Jrai language) evaporating to the environment – the state of non-being – the beginning particles of new existence. In this metaphorical context, forestland with its people is the vanishing dew, while new existence of modernization and industrialization arise. By using products and symbols that either belong to the Central Highlands of Vietnam or related to the violent changes in history, Jrai Dew leads to a scene of human chaos however in a poetic and dreamy way.

The event is held in the Heinz Gallery C from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and is open to those who purchased museum admission. The museum is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map), accessible by buses 28X, 58, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71B, 71D, 75, and P3.

2018 Korean Music Festival, November 3.

The Korean Association of Greater Pittsburgh and the Korean Heritage Room will present the 2018 Korean Music Festival on Saturday, November 3. It will start at 7:00 pm at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium in Oakland (map). The event is $10 for adults, free for students and children, and half-price for those who come dressed in hanbok.

Silk Screen ceases operations after allegations of abuse and sexual harassment against staff and volunteers.

Pittsburgh Current has a lengthy article on the Silk Screen Film Festival and its decision to cease operations after allegations of abuse and sexual harassment against its diretor. KDKA News has a video report on it as well. For its part, the organization says its folding is "part of a long-planned board decision due to financial challenges."

1977 Japanese film House (ハウス) at Row House CInema, October 6.

The 1977 Japanese psychedelic thriller House (ハウス) will play at the Row House Cinema on October 6. "The film," says Wikipedia,

is about a schoolgirl traveling with her six classmates to her ailing aunt's country home, where they come face to face with supernatural events as the girls are, one by one, devoured by the home.

House played at Row House in 2017 as part of that year's Japanese Film Festival.

The October 6 screening starts at 11:59 pm; tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ～２人の英雄) continues in Pittsburgh, October 4 and 6.

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ～２人の英雄), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 25, will continue past its original run with additional screenings on October 4 and 6.

China Town Hall events at Pitt, October 9.

There will be two free China Town Hall events at the University of Pittsburgh on October 9 to accompany a live webcast with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. One event will be held at the Pitt Law Building and will feature an in-person presentation by Dr. Cynthia Watson of the National War College.

CHINA Town Hall is a national conversation on China taking place in scores of communities throughout the United States and in Greater China. The two-part event features an interactive webcast discussion and Q&A with Secretary Rice on the complex Sino-American relationship, as well as an expert speaker on-site to discuss specific China-related issues that have an impact on the local community.

Opportunities to submit questions to Secretary Rice in advance will be emailed to attendees shortly before the event. Attendance is free but seating is limited, so registration is necessary.

After the live webcast with Secretary Rice, our local expert, Dr. Cynthia Watson from the National War College, will give a brief presentation on China’s role in regional security. Audience Q&A will follow.

The event starts at 6:00 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.
Another event will be hosted by the Asian Studies Center and will feature economist Martin Chorzempa.

China Town Hall is a national day of programming on China involving 70 cities throughout the United States. This year's event will feature a local guest speaker at 4:30 pm. We have invited Martin Chorzempa who is a research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics who will talk about China's social credit system followed by a live national webcast with Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.

This event starts at 4:30, will be held at 4130 Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the public.

Decorative Sushi Workshop, October 13 in Cranberry.

Via Sushi Life.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania will present a Decorative Sushi Workshop on October 13.

Kazari Maki-Zushi is a patterned or decorative sushi that is derived from several sushi techniques. Kazari Maki-Zushi can be anything – flowers, fruit, animals, words and even logos. No prior experience is necessary as it involves a different process than creating regular sushi.

At this event, Fumiyo Iwadachi will demonstrate techniques to make decorative sushi. Participants will make their own peach blossom and square designs.

Registration is $25 for JASP members and $35 for non-members.

It will be held at House of Chen at 101 Brandt Dr. in Cranberry (map). Registration can be completed online.

Shadyside rental company hiring Mandarin-speaking office aide.

A Shadyside rental company is hiring a Mandarin-speaking office aide for an apartment complex.

Chinese (Mandarin native fluency) speaking office help needed in busy apartment rental office.

Korean Language Social Hour, October 4 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Korean Language Social Hour on Thursday, October 4.

For Korean language learners and English language learners, please come and join our event! Music, Food, and lots of activities!!

The event is free and open to the Pitt community, and will be held in 3911 Posvar Hall (map) from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.

Hug Thai Noodle House coming soon to Oakland.

Hug Thai Noodle House will open a location in Oakland on October 3. It is located at 422 Semple St. (map) in what was formerly AJ's Burger Peruvian. Hug Thai currently has another location in Lawrenceville.

Bunkasai at Pitt, October 6.

The University of Pittsburgh's Japanese Student Association will host a Bunkasai (culture festival) on October 6. It runs from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm in the William Pitt Union's Assembly Room (map) and is free and open to the Pitt community.

ASPIRE Pathway (辅道教育) / WholeRen Education hiring Chinese-speaking online History/Politics/Social Work tutors.

ASPIRE Pathway (辅道教育), a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting group WholeRen Education, is hiring online tutors in History, Politics, and Social Work.

The academic support department of Wholeren Education is looking for talented, experienced tutors for college level Chinese international students in the US. We help both struggling and gifted students reach their full potential by supplementing the instruction they receive in class and guiding them toward study practices and aides that can help them excel. Tutors work with individual students one-on-one, though we occasionally organize group activities for students who are studying the same material. Our team offers compassionate, motivating assistance to students, and we expect our new hires to do the same. If you have experience tutoring students, please submit an application.