Screenings of Japanese documentaries Mental (精神), Peace, and Campaign (選挙)—with filmmaker Q-and-A sessions—at University of Pittsburgh, September 10 and 11.

Three Japanese documentaries by Kazuhiro Soda——Mental (精神), Peace, and Campaign (選挙)——will screen at the University of Pittsburgh on September 10 and September 11. Soda will be present for Q-and-A sessions on both days in an "ASIA on SCREEN" event presented by the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center and Film Studies Program.

A brief synopsis of 2008's Mental, via the documentary's official site:

[Mental] is a documentary that observes the complex world of an outpatient mental health clinic Chorale Okayama in Japan, interwoven with patients, doctors, staff, volunteers, and home-helpers.

People with various mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, panic disorder, and personality disorder visit Chorale Okayama to see Dr. Masatomo Yamamoto. They are men and women of all ages, with diverse backgrounds and various attitudes to their own illnesses.

There is an elite businessman who worked too hard and was diagnosed with "burn-out syndrome." There is a woman who has suffered from an eating disorder since somebody said to her
that her legs were too fat. There is a mother who ended up killing her own newborn baby. Because of their illnesses, some attempt suicide repeatedly, and others actually kill themselves (As of today, two of the patients in the film have committed suicide). Some have been dealing with their illnesses for decades, and have developed their own philosophy, religious faith, or artistic expressions. Some hide their illnesses even from their family members and friends, while others give lectures to reduce prejudice and misunderstanding about mental illness.

Mental begins at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 10, at the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium (campus map). A Q-and-A with Soda will follow.

2010's Peace, according to the documentary's official site,

is a visual-essay-like observational documentary, which contemplates these questions by observing the daily lives of people and cats in Okayama city, Japan, where life and death, acceptance and rejection are intermingled.

Three people and stray cats are the main characters.

Toshio Kashiwagi runs an affordable taxi service for the disabled and the elderly, having retired as a principal at a special school. Meanwhile, he feeds a group of stray cats everyday. However, there is a growing tension in the cats’ peaceful community because a male “thief cat,” an outsider, is trying to invade it.

Toshio’s wife, Hiroko Kashiwagi, runs a non-profit organization, which sends home helpers to houses of the elderly and the disabled. But, her organization is facing financial difficulties because of budget cuts from the government. At home, she has been grumbling about the way Toshio feeds his cats.

As a professional caregiver herself, Hiroko regularly visits 91-year-old Shiro Hashimoto to help his daily routines. Living in a mice and tick infected small apartment, Hashimoto is spending his final days thinking about his own death. His memories of being drafted to World War II come back to him while dealing with Hiroko.

And the synopsis for 2010's Campaign, via the film's official site:

Can a candidate with no political experience and no charisma win an election if he is backed by the political giant Prime Minister Koizumi and his Liberal Democratic Party? This cinema-verite documentary closely follows a heated election campaign in Kawasaki, Japan, revealing the true nature of "democracy."

In the fall of 2005, 40-year-old, self-employed Kazuhiko "Yama-san" Yamauchi's peaceful, humdrum life was turned upside-down. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had suddenly chosen him as its official candidate to run for a vacant seat on the Kawasaki city council. Yama-san had zero experience in politics, no charisma, no supporters, no constituency, and no time to prepare for the impending election.

Peace will begin at 2:00 pm and Campaign at 5:30 on Friday the 11th. Both movies, along with the 4:00 reception and the Q-and-A session, will be held in Lawrence Hall room 121 (campus map). The event is free and open to the public.

Free Chinese, Japanese, Korean classes at Carnegie Library in Oakland.

The start of the new school year is a good time to remind readers of the free Chinese, Japanese, and Korean classes held at the Carnegie Library in Oakland (map). Depending on the class and the particular volunteer teacher, the sessions range from a period of casual free talking to more rigorous class with workbooks and chalk-and-talk instruction on grammar and usage.

Here's a look at what's coming up, in order of proficiency level:

* Chinese for Beginners (next meeting: September 13). Held the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 in the Large Print Room.
* Chinese II (next meeting: September 6). Held the first and third Sunday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 in the Large Print Room.
* Chinese Conversation Club (next meeting: September 10). Held the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00 in the Large Print Room. For intermediate and advanced learners.

* Japanese for Beginners (next meeting: September 14). Second and fourth Monday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 in Classroom A.
* Japanese II (next meeting: September 8). Second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 in Classroom A. "Japanese II is geared toward those who already have a basic understanding of Japanese and are interested in increasing proficiency," says the library website. "Ability to read and write hiragana is required to take this class."
* Japanese Conversation Club (next meeting: September 15). Held on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6:00 to 7:00 in the Large Print Room. For intermediate and advanced learners.

* Korean for Beginners (next meeting: September 5). Every Saturday from 1:00 to 2:30 in the Large Print Room. Focuses on reading Hangeul and producing basic phrases.
* Korean II (next meeting: September 5). Every Saturday from 11:00 to 12:30 in the Large Print Room.

Students may join the class at any time of the year, though registration is now required for many of the classes. This can be done online by clicking on the class and submitting your name and email address. For more information about the courses, and to register for one, visit the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh homepage, click events, and search for Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.

Korean comedian Mi Youn Kim hanging out in Pittsburgh.

The Korean papers wrote about Korean comedian and actress Mi Youn Kim (김미연) and her trip to PNC Park on Monday the 31st. She received a ticket from rookie shortstop Jungho Kang, she wrote on Twitter.

김미연은 지난달 31일(한국시간) 자신의 트위터에 “피츠버그 PNC 파크”라며 “강정호 야구 선수가 준 티켓으로 응원 열심히 했습니다. 멋집니다. 파이팅!”이라는 글과 함께 한 장의 사진을 게재했다.

Kim is not a household name, but has appeared in a couple of movies and a handful of television programs since debuting in 2002. She took a break from acting after the 2014 movie Fantasy (화상), and currently studies at Point Park University. For the past few months on Twitter and Instagram she's documented her life in Pittsburgh and photographed herself at local landmarks like Mt. Washington, Point State Park, and Eat n' Park.


via @kim_mi_youn_mimi

헐, T-ara's Hyomin to throw first pitch in Pittsburgh at September 13 Pirates game.

With Pittsburgh rookie infielder Jung-ho Kang, via 효민's Instagram on August 31.

Hyomin, the lead singer of the K-pop group T-ara, will throw out the first pitch at PNC Park on September 13, Korean outlets have reported today. The Pirates will play the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1:35 Sunday afternoon game.

2015 Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival, September 19 in Oakland.

Billboards have gone up recently for the first annual Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival, to be held in Oakland on September 19. A June letter from Dequan Jiao soliciting donors and participants provides a brief overview:

It is my great pleasure to share some important information about our first ever Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival. The inaugural 2015 Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival will be held on September 19th, in the heart of Oakland on Bigelow Blvd between Forbes Ave and Fifth Ave. This festival provides a chance for the Chinese community to showcase themselves, network and build new connections, positively present Chinese culture, and allow the Chinese community to make an affirmative contribution to the richness of Pittsburgh and the United States as a whole. Delicious Chinese and Asian foods, fantastic stage performance, all kinds of Chinese culture exhibitions, and fun kids zone, All in one day (09/19 Sat.) and one place (Bigelow Blvd between Forbes Ave and Fifth Ave) for you and your family!

The festival is scheduled from 11:00 to 6:00 pm on Bigelow Blvd., in the William Pitt Union, and in the Cathedral of Learning. A few more details available on the official site, with perhaps more to follow.

Talk on history of University of Pittsburgh's Japanese Nationality Room, September 6.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center shares news of a talk on the history of the University of Pittsburgh's Japanese Nationality Room on Sunday, September 6.

We would like to invite you to a talk on the history of the Japanese Nationality Room (JNR) at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by an informal gathering at the Croghan-Schenley Ball Room, Cathedral of Learning, Room156.

Time: 1:30-2:30 on Sunday, September 6
Place: Japanese Room, Cathedral of Learning Room 317
Speakers: Mr. Arimoto, Dr. Maeshiro, and Dr. Motoyama

Leading the talk will be three longstanding members of the JNR Committee, each with more than 20 years of involvement from the room's founding until the present day: Woodworker Mr. Arimoto and the two Emeritus Members of the JNR Committee, Dr. Maeshiro and Dr. Motoyama.

Row House Cinema adds Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) to September's anime film series.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville recently added a fourth film, 1997's Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) to a September anime film series that also includes Akira (アキラ), Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊), and When Marnie Was There (思い出のマーニー). A 1999 Village Voice review summarizes:

This storyboard-come-to-life animation tells a contemporary tale of a pop star who is the target of a stalker. Her life becomes a nightmare of multiple personalities and blurred media realities. She even has a home page that tracks her every move.

This is a knowing, adult view of what seems to be a young-teenage paradise, a cool world of ponytails, backpacks, laptops and videocams. These are the adulatory fans of pop star Mima, lead singer in a girl group, who announces she's giving it all up to go into acting.

"The pop idol image is suffocating me," she tells her mom in all seriousness.

Showtimes and ticket information will follow on the theater's website.

KBox gets liquor license, offers 20% off through September 27.

KBox emailed yesterday to say they recently received a liquor license and added drink specials to the menu. They are also offering a back-to-school special of 20% off room rates through September 27. Finally, they are also planning to add wireless microphones and LED tables to all rooms.

KBox is Pittsburgh's first Asian-style karaoke / ktv / 노래방---and only one, until the new Squirrel Hill one opens---that opened in September 2012 at 214 S. Craig St. in Oakland (map). More information, and song lists, are available at its website.



The difference between Asian-style places and carry okee night at the bar on Thursdays is that at an Asian place, in Asia, you rent a small room with your friends and sing privately, as opposed to singing to the whole dining room whether it wants to listen to you or not.

Saturday's Squirrel Hill Night Market draws inspiration from Asia.

Squirrel Hill will be holding its first Night Market on Saturday, August 29. Its inspiration from East Asia, organizer Alec Rieger of NextGen:Pgh tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The idea of a nighttime open bazaar was inspired by the night market scene in Asia. Mr. Rieger had his first taste of it in Thailand. “An entire street was transformed into a wonderful, wonderful night market where you could find jewelry, art, food,” he said. “The next morning it was all gone, and it went back to being a regular street.”

NextGen:Pgh also plans a Chinese New Year parade through Squirrel Hill in February 2016. The Night Market will be held from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, on a strip of Murray Ave. between Forbes Ave. and Bartlett St. that will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Korean Heritage Room at Pitt shaping up.

Via the Pitt News.

The Pitt News, the student newspaper at the University of Pittsburgh, has an article on the progress of the Korean Heritage Room, set to open in the Cathedral of Learning on November 15.

Minah Lee, the Architect-of-Record and designer of the room, said she and the other designers wanted the construction of the room to revolve around Korean pride, or “jajonsim.” She, Myounghee Song, Kim Bong-ryol, and Sang C. Park, the other designers of the facility, worked through the summer on the room, which is scheduled to open on Nov. 15.

The room will feature an 82-inch interactive Samsung LCD to display lessons. The inclusion of such technology is the first for any of the Nationality Rooms.
The decision to include technology was made to commemorate South Korea and its role in the electronic industry.

“We are so proud to have the LCD in the room,” Park said, adding that chalkboards and the like could be very messy and time consuming.

And as Pennsylvasia wrote in 2012:

That duality is a common theme in Korean national brand marketing, and this room will reflect both a traditional image of Korea (at least a traditional image of old Korean universities) and a modern one, given South Korea is an industry-leader in electronics (like the touchscreen monitors made by Samsung and LG, for instance).

Fundraising began in 2008, one year after room 304 on the third floor of the Cathedral was earmarked for the Korean room, and construction began in June.

One design by Arumjigi (아름지기)