Dr. Keung Yoon Bae and "The Physicality of Gaming: Bodies and Biology in Esports," February 9 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Keung Yoon Bae and her talk "The Physicality of Gaming: Bodies and Biology in Esports" on February 9.

In an activity like gaming, which is largely perceived to take place on a virtual or online plane, how might we understand the presence and significance of the human body? How do factors relating to the body – the physical locations in which we play games, the presentation of one’s gender, the invisibility of the body in gaming and esports – impact gaming culture and esports media? Dr. Bae explores these questions through a study of gaming and esports in South Korea and the US.

The talk will be at 5:00 pm and on Zoom, and registration is required.

Pittsburgh Opera presents world premiere of In A Grove, based on short story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, from February 19.

Pittsburgh Opera will present In A Grove, based on short story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, from February 19.

Music by Christopher Cerrone, libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann, based on the short story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

A silent, expectant grove. A violent encounter between a man, a woman, and a notorious brigand.

Seven testimonies, each proposing a different perspective on the crime. Akutagawa’s classic short story “In a Grove,” which inspired the plot of Kurosawa’s renowned film Rashomon, offers a searing investigation into the impossibility and elusiveness of truth.

Epic and intimate, timeless and devastatingly timely, the story’s structure lends itself powerfully to music’s ability to conjure—via repetition and variation—how human perception, memory, and desire are fallible, imprecise, and subject to interference.

Join us for this unique world-premiere experience in a place where the ground shifts beneath your feet—a space of ambiguity and clarity, of beauty and menace, and of fragility and strength.

Performances are on February 19, 22, 25, and 27, and March 1 and 3, 2022. Tickets are now available. The theater is located at 2425 Liberty Ave. in the Strip District (map).

Passes for 2022 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, March 18 to 31, now available.

Passes are now available for the 2022 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, to be held at the Row House Cinema from March 18 to 31.

Festival passes are the best way to experience the 2022 Japanese Film Festival. Passholders get access to films and festival events at a huge discount and have first access to book screenings. Quantities are limited, so book today!

The festival began in 2016 and returns in 2022 after a two-year hiatus forced by COVID. The only film announced so far is 2019's The Island of Cats (ねことじいちゃん), which was slated to open the festival back in 2020.

Woosung to open for Epik High, in Pittsburgh on March 19.

It was recently announced that Woosung will be the opening act for Epik High on their 2022 North American tour. The Korean-American singer and the legendary hip-hop group will perform in Pittsburgh---well, in Millvale---on March 19. Tickets for the all-ages show at Mr. Smalls Theater are available online.

No Lunar New Year parade in Squirrel Hill in 2022.

via @LunarNewYearPGH

Although one website is promoting a parade next week, there will not be a Lunar New Year parade in Squirrel Hill in 2022. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition shared in its newsletter:

Happy Lunar New Year! We look forward to welcoming the Year of the Tiger on February 1st with celebrations lasting for two weeks. The Year of the Tiger will be marked with big changes, risk-taking, adventure, and enthusiasm – both for ourselves and for others. Sadly, there will be no community celebrations this year due to Covid-19.

The Lunar New Year parade has moved up Murray Ave. in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood since 2016, capping a couple weeks of festivities, performances, and dining specials in the area. In spite of this year's hiatus, one tourism website atop the Google results does suggest the event will run on February 1 and 2; however, this Ukraine-based website has simply copied-pasted last year's article with a suggested 2022 date.

2022 Greater PGH Lunar New Year Gala, January 29 at North Allegheny Senior High School.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center will hold 2022 Greater PGH Lunar New Year Gala on January 29 at North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford.

The Greater Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center, the Greater Pittsburgh Region Tiger Spring Festival, will take place on January 29th (6:30 pm - 9:00 pm), at the NASH Auditorium of North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh!

For everyone's safety, we expect everyone to be fully vaccinated. (Kids under 5 doesn't need vaccination card) Please show your vaccination card at the entrance. In addition, please wear the face mask during the entire show. No food or beverages are allowed inside the auditorium. Thank you for your cooperation.

Pittsburgh-native show stars, plus four artists from California, New Jersey, Delaware, Georgia, and specially invited professionals in dance design and program planning, will present an audio show to the audience.

This year's party will be special on-site fun and interactive sessions. There will be a lot of heavy prizes draws and big screen scrolling raffle events waiting for everyone. Fang suction smoker, the latest Apple Watch, the nine-sun strip machine, the Cubs Juicers, and a variety of fine little gifts...... the total value of the prize is up to 5000 US dollars! Additional raffle tickets are available to purchase at the entrance. Don't miss it!

Together, let's promote Chinese culture and welcome the Year of the Tiger together!

The event starts at 6:30 pm, and general admission tickets are available online for $10 (kids under 12 and seniors are free). North Allegheny Senior High School is located on Rt. 19 in the North Hills (map).

Environmental Charter School hiring high school Mandarin teacher.

The Environmental Charter School in East Liberty is hiring a high school Mandarin Chinese teacher for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The High School Mandarin Teacher has strong teaching abilities, an understanding of pedagogy and instructional practices, fluency in Mandarin, and a strong interest in environmental studies. The Mandarin Teacher works collaboratively within a team of educators in a High School setting. The teacher works closely with his/her specialist team and provides an introduction to Mandarin in an age-appropriate and developmentally-responsive manner. This role requires experience in language instruction for high school age students. Candidates should be energetic and progressive minded, with a willingness to work collaboratively with grade level and specialist teams.

2021 Japanese animated film Belle (竜とそばかすの姫) to remain in Pittsburgh through at least February 3.

The 2021 Japanese animated film Belle (竜とそばかすの姫), which opened in Pittsburgh on January 12, will stay here through at least February 3. From the distributor:

From the celebrated Academy Award®-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu, creators of Mirai, Wolf Children, Summer Wars, and more, comes a fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media.

Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters “U”, a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of this mysterious “beast” and to discover her true self in a world where you can be anyone.

Belle was the top movie in Japan for three weeks over the summer and was the second-highest grossing film in Japan for 2021. It will play locally the AMC Loews Waterfront, at the local Cinemark theaters, and several other theaters in the Pittsburgh area, and tickets are available online. Please note that some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) to remain in Pittsburgh through February 10.

The acclaimed 2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) which opened in Pittsburgh on January 20, will remain at the Harris Theater through February 10. A brief synospis from a December 7 NPR review:

The story follows a middle-aged Tokyo stage actor named Kafuku, superbly played by Hidetoshi Nishijima. He's a calm, mild-mannered guy who's been married for two decades to a screenwriter named Oto. We get a sense of their mutual devotion when we see Kafuku driving around in his bright red Saab, rehearsing his lines by listening to audio tapes that Oto has painstakingly recorded for him.

But their relationship is more complicated than it appears. Years ago, Kafuku and Oto experienced an agonizing loss that has led her to find solace — and perhaps something more — in relationships with other men. Kafuku has deep compassion for his wife, which doesn't make her betrayal any less painful. And then another tragedy strikes when Oto dies suddenly.

The Harris Theater is located in downtown's Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online or at the door.

A selection of Lunar New Year's deals at local restaurants and groceries in February.

A stack of flyers from CASTP (中国旅美科技协会-匹兹堡分会) advertising a Lunar New Year Gala were at Chengdu Gourmet the other day, and while it's too late to register for the January 22nd event, people can still take advantage of the Lunar New Years deals at several local restaurants and establishments in February. These include: 

Fantuan - 10% off for new users through February 15. Food delivery app. 

Lotus Food - 10% off from February 3 through 10. Located in the Strip District. 

Little Asia - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Oakland.  

芋见BAO - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Oakland. 

Yue Bai Wei - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Squirrel Hill.

Chengdu Gourmet - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17 

Dagu Rice Noodle - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17 

Fujiya Ramen - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Shadyside.