Pittsburgh's Kyuramen opening December 27, Cranberry location a couple months away.

Kyuramen has announced a grand opening for its Pittsburgh location for December 27, this time with an updated graphic featuring baseball players rather than Philadelphia landmarks. Its social media team has acknowledged the Cranberry location is about two months away.

All of our ramen are carefully developed by our ramen masters. The founder of KYURA MEN studied and absobed [sic] the essence of the Japanese ramen, to create the most unique and rich Ramen dish. The carefully crafted "white", "thick", “fresh” and “fragrant” soup bases are served with a fresh Japanese-style pork roast, a 7 minute boiled egg, and a pair of chopped green onions. DELICIOUS!

The national ramen chain's first Pittsburgh restaurant will be located at 6204 Penn Ave. at Eastside Bond (map), and will be accompanied by TBaar, a chain of bubble tea shops. The Cranberry location is in the "Streets of Cranberry" development, between Condado Tacos and Rally House. The ramen place is stylized Kyuramen, KYURAMEN, and Kyu Ramen at various times.

Kyuramen is one of several large national and international Asian chains to come to Pittsburgh in recent years---in addition to Paris Baguette, Tous Les Jours, Fresh International Market, Yi Fang, Kura Revolving Sushi, among many others---and though some may look askance at chains, it also represents the growth of Pittsburgh's food landscape that companies that ignored Pittsburgh for the last decade or two are recognizing its appetites.

OCA Pittsburgh Year of the Snake Banquet, February 15.

The Organization of Chinese Americans Pittsburgh will host its Year of the Snake New Year's Banquet on February 15. The event runs from 5:00 to 9:00 pm at Sichuan Spice in Pittsburgh, and tickets are now available online.

The Lunar New Year began in China more than 4,000 years ago and is widely observed in East and Southeast Asia. Over the years, the festivities have spread around the world. It is now celebrated by millions of people all over the United States, including here in Pittsburgh!

Come celebrate Lunar New Year with OCA Pittsburgh! Eat a 10 course meal, watch cultural performances and participate in a raffle!

OCA Banquet is our fundraiser that makes it possible for OCA to provide advocacy and services for Asian Americans in Pittsburgh.

If you are not currently an active member, we invite you become one. Your membership supports the important work we do as well as access to benefits. Please use this link to sign up.

TapiLab soft opens in Oakland in former Gussy's spot.

New bubble tea place TapiLab has soft opened in Oakland. Signage went up a couple months ago at 3606 Fifth Ave. (map), what was most recently, and briefly, Gussy's Bagels & Pizzeria. Its social media boasts of tapioca pearls freshly made daily and gacha gacha machines.

KYURAMEN opening first Pittsburgh location, December 27.

KYURAMEN has announced its first Pittsburgh location will open on December 27. It will be located at 6204 Penn Ave. at Eastside Bond (map), and will be accompanied by TBaar, a chain of bubble tea shops.

All of our ramen are carefully developed by our ramen masters. The founder of KYURA MEN studied and absobed [sic] the essence of the Japanese ramen, to create the most unique and rich Ramen dish.

The carefully crafted "white", "thick", “fresh” and “fragrant” soup bases are served with a fresh Japanese-style pork roast, a 7 minute boiled egg, and a pair of chopped green onions. DELICIOUS!

The national ramen chain, sometimes stylized Kyu Ramen and Kyuramen, was first announced for Pittsburgh in July 2023. A second location in Cranberry remains under construction.

The Pittsburgh announcement graphic features the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, both of which are in Philadelphia, and tagline for the Sunflower State, Kansas.

Guided Tour - 芸 [Gei ]: The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal, January 18 at Contemporary Craft.

On the last day of the 芸 [Gei ]: The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal exhibit at Contemporary Craft, January 18, the gallery will offer a free guided tour from 11 am to 12 pm.

芸［Gei]: The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal invites viewers to explore the captivating duality of Japanese Sogetsu Ikebana and craft, highlighting the profound cultural connections woven through these art forms. Ikebana (生け花, living flowers), the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, captures the fleeting beauty of nature. Conversely, we celebrate the eternal through masterful craft objects. These objects embody enduring skill and meticulous attention to detail. From exquisite ceramics to intricate metal and wood sculptures, these crafts echo with the wisdom and patience of their makers, preserving techniques practiced over generations while celebrating individuality and collaboration. Join Contemporary Craft on a artist-led guided tour of GEI !

Admission is free, please consider donating to support the sustainability of our public programs.

Tickets are available online. Contemporary Craft is a gallery and creative space that broadly states its mission as "To engage the public in creative experiences through contemporary craft.." It is located at 5645 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Registration open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Registration remains open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Embark on an extraordinary linguistic journey by learning Chinese! Because of this incredible support, we’ve crafted an environment that goes beyond language acquisition—it’s an adventure into the heart of Mandarin-speaking culture. Seize the opportunity to not just learn a language, but to unlock a world of possibilities and enrich your personal and professional journey. Don’t miss out on the chance to thrive in a community where language and culture converge seamlessly. Join us and let the language of opportunity be your guide!

Classes are Sundyas from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm at South Hills Middle School (map), and the next sesion runs from January 12 through April 6, 2025. The cost is $120 per term, with discounts for referrals available. Space is limited and registration can be completed online.

PhoEverMore and Fantastea now open in Gibsonia, bringing pho, Korean food, bubble tea, and more.

PhoEverMore and Fantastea have now opened in Gibsonia. Signage first went up earlier this fall for the side-by-side spots, owned and operated by a Korean couple, though the pho restaurant seems to have gone through some different names in the planning phase. In addition to pho, the restaurant's menu includes Korean dishes and appetizers, Korean ramen, fried rice, hibachi rice and noodles, plus other Asian dishes. They are located at the Walnut Creek Plaza, 5316 William Flinn Highway (Route 8) (map).

Get a Grip Clawcade opens in West Mifflin (well, opened August 31).

Get a Grip Clawcade, "The Pittsburgh area's first clawcade experience," has opened in West Mifflin. This is not breaking news, as it opened August 31, but it was newly-posted to /r/pittsburgh. Get a Grip Clawcade contains over 70 claw machines and is located at 1860 Homeville Rd. (map), in The Village Shopping Center.

Spiral Symphony: A Chorus of Transformation and Renewal: The 28th Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Fair and Show, January 26.

The Carnegie Museum of Art will host "Spiral Symphony: A Chorus of Transformation and Renewal: The 28th Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Fair and Show" on January 26.

Inspired by the Year of the Snake, the 28th Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Celebration heralds the new year with a resplendent celebration of change and rebirth. Presented by the CASTP Organization, with support from Carnegie Museum of Art, this multicultural festival harmonizes ancient Lunar New Year traditions with global customs. Guests will embark on a mesmerizing journey through spiraling rhythms and evolving melodies, where the snake’s wisdom and symbolism come alive in spectacular performances and hands-on activities. This immersive experience invites attendees to shed the old and embrace the new, fostering a joyous chorus of global unity and growth as we step into the promising dawn of a new year.

The fair will be from 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Japanese metal band HANABIE。returns to Pittsburgh, March 12.

Japanese metal band HANABIE。will return to Pittsburgh on March 12, part of their US tour with Kim Dracula. Their Reddit fanpage provides an introduction:

Loud rock band HANABIE。formed at their school light music club in June 2015. Centering in Kichijōji, Tokyo, they started performing live around areas such as Shinjuku and Tachikawa.

The sound of Hanabie features the sound mixture of metalcore, hardcore, Hip-Hop, and J-POP. Their 1st album, "Girls Manifest" was released in 2020. With this album, they have established their own genre "HARAJUKUCORE"

Their live performances have a speed and power that exceeds expectations and captivates their audience. Yukina's powerful screaming/growling vocals never leave anyone without being amazed, along with this excellent melodic lines given by the clean voice of Matsuri, this is a complete basis for an amazing metalcore band but as for them it isn't enough they add different layers of voices between rap lines. If vocally they are great, in the instrumental part they're not left behind, aggressive, heavy, and dynamic. Certainly to define this band you need at least two words: dynamic and powerful.

The band played Preserving Underground in New Kensington in September 2023 and the Roxian Theatre in September 2024.

Ticket presale for the all ages show at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks (map), 6:30 pm, is happening now.

1962 Japanese film Harakiri (切腹) in Pittsburgh, January 9 - 15.

The 1962 animated film Harakiri (切腹) will play in Pittsburgh from January 9 through 15.

In 18th-century Edo, a masterless samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai) wanders into the virtuous House of Iyi, asking to commit ritual seppuku (suicide). He is met with skepticism by the clan’s retainers, who have learned of drifting ronin making similar requests as a means of extortion. Nevertheless, the samurai promises to disembowel himself, but not before imparting the tragic circumstances that have led him to this final act. Adorned by stunning chiaroscuro compositions, an unnerving Toru Takemitsu score, and a bitingly acerbic script by Kurosawa scribe Shinobu Hashimoto, director Masaki Kobayashi’s slow-burn rebuke of authority culminates in a scathing takedown of the bushido code and the shallow valor it vowed to uphold.

It plays in Japanese with English subtitles at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online.

Pittsburgh Japanese School still recruiting new teachers.

The Pittsburgh Japanese School, which provides Japanese-language education on Sundays to kids from preschool through high school, is still recruiting teachers and volunteers, particularly those qualified to teach preschool and elementary school level. A Pennsylvania teaching certificate is not required, but requirements beyond native-like fluency include work authorization in the United States and a college degree with a demonstrated ability to teach Japanese.

国際社会の未来を担う子供達を育てる、やりがいのある仕事です。

◆常勤講師３名

• • 幼稚部1名

  • 小学部2名　（高学年を担当できる方　国語と算数）

︎米国内で就労可能なビザ(E2,L2を含む)またはグリーンカードを有している方。

︎短大卒以上で日本語での指導が確かな方。

︎教員免許がなくても子供が好きで教育熱心な方。

︎平日に仕事を持っていても、開校日のために授業の前準備や採点処理が出来る方。

Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble return to Pittsburgh, March 7.

Alash Ensemble will return to perform in Pittsburgh on March 7.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. Masters of traditional Tuvan instruments as well as the art of throat singing, Alash are deeply committed to traditional Tuvan music and culture. At the same time, they are fans of western music. Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, the musicians subtly infuse their songs with western elements, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new, yet true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

The group will perform at the First Unitarian Church in Shadyside (map) from 7:30 pm. Tickets are available for purchase at Jerry's Records, Vinyl Remains, Long Play Cafe, Government Center, and online for $25, or for $30 at the door.

Sumi's Cakery in Squirrel Hill closes.

Sumi's Cakery, the first Korean bakery in Pittsburgh, has finally closed its doors for good. The bakery had been temporarily closed for much of this year, since opening a second location in the Strip District's Novo Asian Food Hall.

When Sumi's opened in March 2012 it was one of two Asian bakeries on the street, joining the Taiwanese bakery Bubble Pi and followed by Pink Box two-and-a-half years later. It brought Korean cakes, pastries, and patbingsu to the neighborhood, and the city, and was the only Korean bakery around until international chains Tous Les Jours and Paris Baguette opened earlier in 2024.

via @sumiscakery, from November 2023

Additional day added for album making-of documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place (still playing) in Pittsburgh on December 14 and 15.

An extra day has been added for the album making-of documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place, which played in Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 5 and 8 and will stay here on December 14 and, now, December 15.

A film that chronicles artist RM's eight-month production of his second solo album, “Right Place, Wrong Person,” while candidly recording the endless concerns of the person Kim Namjoon, and the things he immerses himself in and loves.

It plays on December 14 at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and on the 15th at the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!

It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

2006 Japanese animated film Paprika (パプリカ) in Pittsburgh, January 8, 9, and 12.

The 2006 Japanese animated film Paprika (パプリカ) will play in Pittsburgh on January 8, 9, and 12, part of the 2024-2025 Anime Expo Cinema Nights series.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents the 15th anniversary and a 4K restoration of the last film ever made by visionary director Satoshi Kon with his mind-bending thriller PAPRIKA. When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online; the shows on the 8th and 12th are in Japanese with English subtitles, while the shows on the 9th are dubbed in English.

Miniso now open at South Hills Village Mall.

The much-anticipated Miniso at South Hills Village Mall is now officially open as of December 7, after a brief soft-opening period. Miniso is "a Japanese-inspired lifestyle product retailer offering high-quality household goods, cosmetics, and food at affordable prices," and has been described with terms like a Chinese Five Below or a Japanese Hot Topic with main attractions being Japanese snacks, figures, plushies, cosmetics, and more. It opened its first Western Pennsylvania location in Greensburg this summer, with locations at The Mall at Robinson and this South Hills Village one opening over the last few days.

2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) in Pittsburgh, December 15 and 16.

The acclaimed 2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) will return to Pittsburgh on December 15 and 16.

“A Silent Voice” follows the poignant and moving story of Shoya Ishida, a school bully, and Shoko Nishimiya, a young girl with a hearing disability. Their story begins in sixth grade when Shoko transfers to Shoya’s elementary school and quickly finds herself bullied and isolated due to her hearing disability. Years later, the tables turn, and Shoya finds himself the victim. “A Silent Voice” depicts the struggles and challenges of adolescence alongside coming-of-age outside the norm.

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

Concert film Babymetal: Legend-43 in Pittsburgh, December 11 and 15.

The upcoming concert film Babymetal: Legend-43 will play in Pittsburgh December 11 and 15.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents a special concert film of the band BABYMETAL with their worldwide tour Legend-43. In April 2023, SU-METAL (Vocal, Dance), MOAMETAL (Scream, Dance), and MOMOMETAL (Scream, Dance) entered a new stage as the newly born BABYMETAL. Since then, they have embarked on their largest world tour, "BABYMETAL WORLD TOUR 2023 - 2024," which took them to 25 countries, including Japan. The headline tour, excluding festivals and guest acts, drew a cumulative audience of more than 280,000 people for a total of 98 performances. The final chapter of the world tour, the first Okinawa performance "TOUR FINAL IN JAPAN LEGEND - 43", has been fully filmed. The film is BABYMETAL's first live film that allows viewers to experience all of the diverse music, unique worldview, production that only a tour final can offer, and the overwhelming performance of BABYMETAL, which has evolved even further during their world tour.

Babymetal performed in the Pittsburgh area in September 2023. The movie is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.