Japanese Pitt alumni to speak on "Careers in International Trade and Development," "Entrepreneurship in Japan" on March 5.

The University of Pittsburgh's International Business Center will host two talks on March 5 with Japanese alumni on the topics of international trade and entrepreneurship in Japan.

1931 Japanese silent film Jirokichi the Rat (御誂治郎吉格子) with live benshi performance, February 26 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 1931 Japanese silent film Jirokichi the Rat (御誂治郎吉格子) with a live benshi performance on February 26.

Once known as “poets of the dark," benshi brought silent films to life through commentary and vocal performance, giving voice to the characters on screen. As many as 8000 benshi were performing across the country and the Japanese empire by the 1930s, and their popularity—and power—slowed the introduction of sound film in Japan.

Join us to see internationally celebrated Kataoka Ichiro narrate a silent film, accompanied by pianist Tom Roberts.

The event starts at 5:30 pm in 125 Frick Fine Arts (map) and is free and open to the public.

"Ah so!" "Banzai." Pittsburgh Pirates and Chunichi Dragons.

Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh and Chunichi Dragons manager Wally Yonamine, 1975.

In 1975, the Chunichi Dragons spent spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Florida. The Dragons were the reigning Central League champions, and were managed by Japanese-American---and Japanese Baseball Hall of Famer---Wally Yonamine. A book on Yonamine, Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball, says the visit was a reward for his leading the team to the Central League championship.

For winning the pennant, Chunichi's board of directors gave the team two rewards. The first was a new clubhouse.

. . .

The second was a trip to Florida for spring training. Yonamine made arrangements with Joe Brown, Pittsburgh's general manager, for the Dragons to train with the Pirates. The Dragons arrived in March, already in shape from their February camp at Hamamatsu, and played exhibition games against the Pirates and nearby Major League teams. Though everybody knew the American teams were not yet in top form, Chunichi did well, taking two of three games against Pittsburgh and beating the Chicago White Sox 1-0.

WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring Mandarin-speaking Spanish tutors.

Pittsburgh-based Chinese education and consulting company WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced openings for Mandarin-speaking Spanish tutors.

New Chinese film The Wandering Earth (流浪地球) in Pittsburgh through February 25.

The new Chinese movie The Wandering Earth (流浪地球), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 5 for the Lunar New Year, will stay in town through Monday, February 25. The South China Morning Post summarizes the movie, considered China's first big-budget science fiction film.

The film portrays how a group of intrepid Chinese astronauts save the world from the brink of annihilation due to the imminent destruction of the sun. Like Hollywood space movies where Americans are portrayed as the only ones capable of saving humanity, here Chinese astronauts are the sole adventurers among the global space community determined to complete the arduous task of fending off the apocalypse.

In spite of such overt patriotism, the film is spectacular for its ceaseless stream of hair-raising close-shave encounters and apocalyptic landscapes oozing desolation and despair. There is also a touching subplot involving family bonds at the centre of the mission to save the earth.

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.

Arden Cho at Pitt, March 2.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Students Alliance presents Arden Cho on March 2.

Arden Cho is a Korean American actress, singer, youtuber and model best known for her role as Kira Yukimaru on Teen Wolf. She also has been an strong advocate for Asian American issues especially within media.

Tickets will be available soon at the William Pitt Union Ticket Office; information about ticketing will be released on a later date.

Black and gold gloves for infielder Bae Ji-hwan.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Bae Ji-hwan (배지환) unveiled some new gloves on Instagram the other day. Bae is a 19-year-old prospect from Daegu, South Korea, who signed with Pittsburgh in March. He is currently in Florida preparing to attend spring training, though he is likely to peak at single-A this season.

Pachinko book discussion ahead of Min Jin Lee talk, March 28 at Pitt.

via minjinlee.com

Author Min Jin Lee's April 1 lecture is sold out, but the University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center is holding a discussion of Pachinko on March 28.

"North Korea in Transition" opening lecture, February 22 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Scott Snyder and his talk "North Korea in Transition" on February 22.

"Japan 2019: Outlook and Challenges" with Deputy Counsel General of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Koji Abe, February 20 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Deputy Counsel General of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Koji Abe and his talk "Japan 2019: Outlook and Challenges" on February 20.

Deputy Counsel General of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Koji Abe will be discussing the current situation in Japan and challenges to come. He will consider Japan's relations with East Asia and South Asia, as well as the US-Japan alliance. He will examine the USJTA and TPP, grassroots activities in Japan, and other political, social, and economic aspects of Japan.

It will be held from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at 4130 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.