Screening of After Spring, the Tamaki Family (海的彼端), March 1 at Carnegie Mellon University.

Café Philo-Pittsburgh will present a screening of the film After Spring, the Tamaki Family (海的彼端) on March 1.

Join a movie screening of <After Spring, The Tamaki Family…> on Saturday, March 1 at 2pm at CMU.

This documentary delves into the history and identity struggles of the Tamaki family, the largest Taiwanese clan on Japan's Ishigaki Island. Forced into repatriation, the family endured the 228 Incident and 30 years as stateless refugees under U.S. rule in Okinawa. As the first generation ages, the Tamaki children plan a final journey to Taiwan to reconnect with their roots.

This is an event to commemorate the February 28 massacre of 1947 in Taiwan.  

Admission is FREE. Please reserve your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/after-spring-the-tamaki-family-movie-screening-tickets-1227065819899 

Check-in for the event starts at 1:30 pm, a brief intro will start at 2:00, the film will start at 2:10, and the movie will be followed by a post-screening talk. The events will be held in McConomy Auditorium in the Jared L. Cohon University Center at Carnegie Mellon University (map). The screening is sponsored by Taiwan International Democratic Film Festival (TIDFF), KITA Foundation, Taiwan Aloha, and the Taiwanese Scholar Society in Pittsburgh (TSS).

1995 Wong Kar-wai film Fallen Angels (墮落天使) in Pittsburgh, from February 28.

The 1995 Wong Kar-wai film Fallen Angels (墮落天使) will play at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from February 28 as part of its Big 3-0 film series of movies turning 30 years old.

Originally conceived as a segment of Chungking Express, Fallen Angels spun off into its own hallucinatory, neon-colored story of lost souls looking for human connection.

It runs through March 6 and tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

New Japanese animated movie Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning (機動戦士 Gundam GQuuuuuuX - Beginning - ) in Pittsburgh, from February 26.

The new Japanese animated movie Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from February 27. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Amate Yuzuriha is a high-school student living peacefully in a space colony floating in outer space. When she meets a war refugee named Nyaan, Amate is drawn into the illegal mobile suit dueling sport known as Clan Battle.

Under the entry name “Machu,” she throws herself into fierce battle day after day, piloting the GQuuuuuuX. Then an unidentified Gundam mobile suit pursued by both the space force and the police appears before her, along with its pilot, a boy named Shuji.

Now their world is about to enter a new era.

The first-ever major collaboration between studio khara, the studio behind the EVANGELION Series, and SUNRISE, the historic home to the Mobile Suit Gundam animated works, brings together an all-star creative team for a groundbreaking new entry to the Gundam universe. Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki (FLCL), with a screenplay co-written by legendary screenwriter Yoji Enokido (Revolutionary Girl Utena) and acclaimed filmmaker Hideaki Anno (EVANGELION Series), Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- is a stunning visual feast that will captivate fans, both old and new.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Witch Watch: Watch Party in Pittsburgh, March 16, 17, 18.

Witch Watch: Watch Party, featuring the first three episodes of the upcoming anime series, will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on March 16, 17, and 18. A synopsis from the distributor, GKIDS:

Morihito Otogi, a high school student who comes from a lineage of ogres, enjoys a peaceful, ordinary life until his childhood friend, Nico, moves in with him. Nico is a witch-in-training, and chooses Morihito to be her familiar. While Nico is thrilled to reunite with her old friend and crush, Morihito is tasked with the perilous duty to protect her from a foretold calamity. Between the unpredictable chaos caused by Nico’s magic, and the awkwardness of sharing a home, their lives become a whirlwind of supernatural hijinks and threats.

Puppy love meets magical mischief and danger in WITCH WATCH, the endlessly charming and riotously funny new anime series.

Based on the Weekly Shonen Jump manga by Kenta Shinohara (SKET Dance), get the first sneak peek of the upcoming anime with WITCH WATCH: WATCH PARTY, a special theatrical premiere event featuring the first three episodes and exclusive interviews.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings to soft open its Pittsburgh location on February 24.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, a popular New York-based chain specializing in dumplings and southern Chinese cuisine, teased its Pittsburgh opening on social media recently, and has announced a friends-and-family opening on February 23 and a soft opening on February 24. The restaurant's first Pittsburgh location will be located in the Southside Works at the former Sake spot.

📣 Hello, Pittsburgh Family! We’re excited to announce that Nan Xiang is coming soon to @southsideworks at
📍 2773 Sidney St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

✨ We’ll be joining amazing neighbors like The Cheesecake Factory, Urban Outfitters, and Hyatt House—bringing you the best soup dumplings in town!

Stay tuned and follow us for the latest updates on our Grand Opening—we can’t wait to serve you! ❤️

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings was first announced for the spot in September 2023, with an opening planned for Spring 2024. 

The restaurant's official site describes its offerings:

Soup dumplings, or xiao long bao (which literally means "little steamer-basket buns" in Mandarin Chinese), originated hundreds of years ago in Nan Xiang, a canal town near Shanghai. Today, soup dumplings are a global icon of Southern Chinese comfort food.

For New Yorkers, the introduction to the best soup dumplings in the state began in 2006 with a family recipe and a small shop in Flushing. Nearly twenty years later, Nan Xiang is synonymous with authentic Southern Chinese cuisine.

. . .

Recognized as having “the best soup dumplings in town” and with a perennial feature in the Michelin Guide, we pride ourselves on being a haven for those who value the warmth of home-cooked meals, family dinners, and community. What does the taste of home mean to you? We hope you’ll find the answer here at Nan Xiang.

2025 Chinese movie Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (射雕英雄传：侠之大者) in Pittsburgh, from February 20.

The 2025 Chinese movie Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (射雕英雄传：侠之大者) will play in Pittsburgh from February 20.

The film is adapted from Mr. Jin Yong's classic martial arts work "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". It tells the story of the world of grievances and hatred in the war-torn era of power struggle. Guo Jing (played by Xiao Zhan) left his hometown and acquired huge power of martial arts to change destiny. Although he was valued by Kung Fu Masters and who passed down the world's peerless martial arts "Nine Yin Manual" and "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms", jealousy towards him was formed from all parties where he became the target of public criticism. Guo Jing and Huang Rong (played by Zhuang Dafei) turned the tide and protected the Southern Song Dynasty border amidst the rain of arrows with the spirit of gallants.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), now the top-grossing animated film of all time, remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) February 26.

The 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 13, will remain here through at least February 26.

After the catastrophe, although the souls of Nezha and Aobing were saved, their bodies would soon be shattered. Taiyi Zhenren planned to use the seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies.

Ne Zha 2 recently became the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, and tickets are available online.

Concert film Ive The First World Tour in Cinema in Pittsburgh, February 26 and March 1.

The concert film Ive The First World Tour in Cinema will play in Pittsburgh on February 26 and March 1.

After traveling across 19 countries during their first-ever world tour, IVE made a passionate return to Seoul for an encore performance of their “SHOW WHAT I HAVE” concert. Now, the dreamlike excitement of their world tour unfolds on the big screen once again – this time in cinemas across the globe. Capturing the energy and the emotion of the concert, this thrilling film features a rich set-list filled with diverse hit songs that made IVE who it is today along with dazzling stage performances, candid band interviews, and exclusive behind-the-scenes videos! This is a special opportunity to dive into IVE for the first time or to relive the special memories from the live concert. Are you ready to ‘LOVE DIVE’?

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

"Mascots, Cryptids, and UFOs: Civic Monsters in Contemporary Japan," April 10 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. William Tsutsui and his talk "Mascots, Cryptids, and UFOs: Civic Monsters in Contemporary Japan" on April 10.

Why are cute and creepy mascots so ubiquitous among Japan’s cities and regions? Is there a Japanese Bigfoot? Have extraterrestrials ever landed in Japan? This lecture traces the history of Japanese mascots, cryptids, and UFOs, exploring how invented, imagined, and unexplained creatures have been deployed in tourism campaigns, the creation of regional identity, and local commercial boosterism. These “civic monsters” grew from Japan’s rich and distinctive monster culture of folkloric yōkai and cinematic kaijū but are also deeply woven into global circuitries of politics, capitalism, media, and play.

Why are cute and creepy mascots so ubiquitous among Japan’s cities and regions? Is there a Japanese Bigfoot? Have extraterrestrials ever landed in Japan? This lecture traces the history of Japanese mascots, cryptids, and UFOs, exploring how invented, imagined, and unexplained creatures have been deployed in tourism campaigns, the creation of regional identity, and local commercial boosterism. These “civic monsters” grew from Japan’s rich and distinctive monster culture of folkloric yōkai and cinematic kaijū but are also deeply woven into global circuitries of politics, capitalism, media, and play.

It runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Barco Law Building's Alcoa Room (map).

2001 Hayao Miyazaki film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) in Oakmont, February 28.

The 2001 Hayao Miyazaki film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play at The Oakls Theater in Oakmont on February 28.

Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki’s wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation. Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time.

The show runs from 8:00 to 10:05 pm and tickets are $10. The Oakls Theater is located at 310 Allegheny River Blvd. (map).

1988 Japanese animated movie Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (機動戦士ガンダム 逆襲のシャア) in Pittsburgh, March 12 and 16.

The 1988 Japanese animated movie Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (機動戦士ガンダム 逆襲のシャア) will play in Pittsburgh on March 12 and 16, part of an 2024/2025 AX Cinema Nights series over 2024 and 2025.

Universal Century 0093. The previously missing Char Aznable has revived Neo Zeon and declared war against the Earth Federation government. The Londo Bell unit commanded by Bright Noa is forced to fight alone and unaided against the Neo Zeon forces, which have begun dropping asteroids onto the Earth. Among the Londo Bell members is Amuro Ray, Char's longtime rival. But their valiant efforts are in vain as 5th Luna falls onto the planet.

Sensing a further threat behind Char's movements, Amuro heads for the Moon to collect the Nu Gundam, a mobile suit equipped with a psycho-frame. Waiting for him there is its lead developer, Chan Agi. Meanwhile, Bright's son Hathaway Noa meets a girl named Quess Paraya on his way into space, and is instantly attracted to her..

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Attack on Titan: The Last Attack (劇場版「進撃の巨人」 ～THE LAST ATTACK～) stays in Pittsburgh through February 19.

The 2024 compilation film Attack on Titan: The Last Attack (劇場版「進撃の巨人」 ～THE LAST ATTACK～), consisting of the last two episodes of the anime series, will continue playing in Pittsburgh through at least February 19, after opening here February 10.

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK brings together the last two episodes of the highly acclaimed anime series in the franchise's first-ever theatrical experience delivering the epic finale in a colossal-sized omnibus film. Humanity lived quietly behind massive walls built to protect themselves from the threat of monstrous creatures called Titans. Their century of peace was shattered by an attack on their city that left a young child, Eren Yeager, motherless and vowing revenge on the titans. Years after joining the Survey Corps, Eren finds himself facing a deadly foe, and ultimately gains a special ability that unveils a new truth about the world he knows. After venturing beyond the walls and separated from his comrades, Eren finds himself inspired by this new truth and plots the "Rumbling," a terrifying plan to eradicate every living thing in the world.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, with some shows dubbed in English and others in Japanese with English subtitles, and tickets are available online.

2025 Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Parade, set for February 16, cancelled due to rain forecast.

The 2025 Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Parade, set to march through Squirrel Hill on February 16, has been cancelled due to the forecast of rain. Some festivities have been moved inside the Jewish Cultural Center (JCC).

Unfortunately the weather prediction for Sunday February 16th is 90% chance of rain with intermittent winds. Therefore the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and the OCA Asian American Advocates of Pittsburgh decided to cancel the outdoor Lunar New Year parade scheduled for noon on Sunday. As we consider the beginning of the New Year the safety of our performers and participants is essential. We apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation has caused.

The relatively new annual tradition was aiming to return in 2025 after taking 2024 off.

Opening reception for Jordan Wong (WONGFACE)'s PRACTICE +/-, February 28 at The Portal.

The Portal Art Gallery will host an opening reception for a new exhibition by Jordan Wong (WONGFACE) titled PRACTICE +/- on February 28. From the artist:

PRACTICE +/- builds upon my recent "Play is Infinite" exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (on view until May). This body of work furthers my imaginative exploration of the Ultimate Self, the endless possibilities of leveling up in life, and the transformative power of play.

The opening reception will be held 5:30 to 7:30 pm on the 28th, and The Portal is located at 6425 Penn Ave in Bakery Square (map).

New Vietnamese restaurant coming soon to Oakland.

Signage went up a little while ago for a new Vietnamese restaurant "bringing the taste of Vietnam to Oakland." It seems to be called Vietnam Vietnam 9 and is located at 338 S. Bouquet St. (map), in what was most recently Beta Bytes. Window signage advertises pho, banh mi, bun bo hue, com dia, bun, chao, heo kho, and bo kho.

The side streets of Oakland, and S. Bouquet would qualify in spite of being a somewhat busy thoroughfare connecting campus to residential areas, have grown bland over the years, with fewer retail and restaurants. This corner of Oakland hasn't had a Vietnamese restaurant in decades, and the general Oakland area hasn't had one since a series of short-lived Vietnamese spots on N. Craig St. in what is now Bomb Chicken.

Annual Matsuri at Carnegie Mellon, February 23.

The Japanese Student Association at Carnegie Mellon University will present its annual Matsuri on February 23, from 12:00 to 6:00 pm in the Rangos Ballroom on the 2nd floor of the Cohon University Center (map).

We are excited to announce CMU JSA’s major event of the year, our spring Matsuri! This year’s theme is 縁日（Ennichi）. Translated literally, it means a day of connections and signifies a major festival in Japan.

Join us on February 23rd, from 12-6 PM in the Cohon University Center Rangos Ballroom to play some traditional Japanese games, eat winter-themed Japanese foods, and watch performances from both university students and local Pittsburgh performers.

Feel free to reach out over Instagram or through our website cmujsa.com/matsuri for more information! We look forward to seeing you there!

本格的な冬の寒さも退け暖かい陽が戻ってきたなか、いかがお過ごしでしょうか。カーネギーメロン日本人学生会です。

この度は2月23日に我々が開催する祭りの広報、又ご参加をおねがいしたく連絡させていただいております。テーマは「縁日」ということでこのピッツバーグの冬のなか少しでも日本の夏を思い出していただくことを願いこのイベントを主催しています。日本での祭りを模した食べ物や遊び、パフォーマンスを用意させていただきます。お子様も大歓迎ですのでもしよろしければご家族での参加などを楽しみにしています。場所はカーネギーメロン大学の Cohon University Center の2階にあるRangosという部屋、開場は昼の12時、閉場は午後6時とさせていただきます。

当日にお会い出来るのを楽しみにしています。

New time for Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Parade on Sunday, February 16.

Organizers have moved the start time of the Lunar New Year Parde through Squirrel Hill from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the hopes of finding warmer weather. The relatively new annual tradition returns in 2025 after taking 2024 off. The parade moves up Murray Ave. from Phillips Ave. to Forbes Ave. (map).

New Chinese movie Detective Chinatown 1900 (唐探1900) remains in Pittsburgh through February 19.

The 2025 Chinese movie Detective Chinatown 1900 (唐探1900), which opened in Pittsburgh on January 31, will stay here through at least February 19.

In 1900, a white woman was murdered in Chinatown in San Francisco, and the suspect was a Chinese man. The murder caused social shock, and people demanded the closure of Chinatown.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Win-Win Kung Fu in Squirrel Hill now accepting applications for six-week summer camp for kids' martial arts, fitness, culture, and language training; $30 discount for registration by April 30.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center's annual summer camp returns for six weeks of programming in July, and the school is now accepting applications. 

 Camp Schedule:

• Week 1: July 7 – 11
• Week 2: July 14 – 18
• Week 3: July 21 – 25
• Week 4: July 28 – August 1
• Week 5: August 4 – 8
• Week 6: August 11 – 15

 Location: Squirrel Hill Studio – 2705-2707 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
 Time: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (optional extended care until 5:30 PM)
 Ages: 5 – 15 years

 What to Expect

 Learn Kung Fu/Wushu/Tai Chi from champion masters
 Train in martial arts fundamentals
 Boost focus, fitness, and confidence with intensive training
 Dive into Mandarin language, Chinese culture, games, and movies
 Have fun in a supportive and engaging environment

 Tuition & Registration

• $240 per 5-day week (Save $30 when you register by April 30!)
• 10% discount for siblings
• New students: One-time $90 registration fee (includes a pair of training shoes, T-shirt, and training pants)
• Free registration for current Win-Win students
• Only 25 spots per week – First Come, First Serve!

 How to Register
 Current Win-Win students: Complete the selection form and submit a 20% tuition deposit.
 New students: Fill out the registration form, sign the waiver, complete the selection form, and submit a 20% tuition deposit along with the $90 registration fee.

Seats fill up fast, so don’t miss out on a summer of fun and learning!

For questions or to register, call (412) 336-8898 or email masters [at] winwinkungfu.com.

The studio is located at 2705 Murray Ave., on the ground floor of the Morrowfield building in Squirrel Hill South (map). 

2025 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival lineup announced.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville has announced the lineup today for its annual Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, running this year from March 14 through March 27.

• Ghost Cat Anzu (化け猫あんずちゃん) - March 14, 15
• Ghost Killer (ゴーストキラー) - March 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
• Yojimbo (用心棒) - March 15, 16, 18, 19, 20
• Baby Assassins: Nice Days (ベイビーわるきゅーれ ナイスデイズ) - March 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
• Versus (ヴァーサス) - March 15
• Samurai Marathon (サムライマラソン) - March 16, 17, 18, 19,.20
• Akira (アキラ) - March 17
• Kill! (斬る) - March 20
• Ice Cream Fever (アイスクリームフィーバー) - March 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
• Onibaba (鬼婆) - March 21, 22, 24, 25
• The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人) - March 21, 22, 23, 25, 26
• Look Back (ルックバック) - March 21
• The Colors Within (きみの色) - March 21, 22, 24, 25, 26
• Cha Cha (チャチャ) - March 22, 24, 26
• Red Beard (赤ひげ) - March 23
• Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (座頭市千両首) - March 26

Single tickets, ticket packages, and showtime information is now available online. Additional films and special events may be added later. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).