2019 film Promare (プロメア) in Pittsburgh, September 17 and 19.

The 2019 Japanese animated film Promare (プロメア) will play in Pittsburgh on September 17. The distributor summarizes:

The first feature-length film from the acclaimed studio TRIGGER, creators of the hit series KILL la KILL and Little Witch Academia, and director Hiroyuki Imaishi (GURREN LAGANN, KILL la KILL), Promare uses a bold cel-shaded visual style to tell a blistering action-adventure story, and is the spiritual successor to many of director Imaishi’s former works.

Thirty years has passed since the appearance of Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings, who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves “Mad Burnish” appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team “Burning Rescue,” and Lio Fotia, the leader of “Mad Burnish” begins.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and AMC South Hills Village, Southside Works Cinema, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson. The September 17 shows are dubbed in English while the September 19 ones are in Japanese with English subtitles. Tickets are available online.

"Storytime: Japanese and English" at Carnegie Library in East Liberty, September 17.

via archdaily.org

The next installment of the monthly program "Storytime: Japanese and English" will take place on September 17 at the Carnegie Library in East Liberty.

Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in both English and Japanese for children and their parents or caregivers. For children age birth – 5 and their caregivers.

It runs from 11:00 to 11:30 am. The library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

"Fall Flower Show: Japanese Inspirations" at Phipps, October 19 - November 10.

Phipps Conservatory will present "Fall Flower Show: Japanese Inspirations" from October 19 through November 10.

Starting Sat., Oct. 19, Phipps’ Fall Flower Show: Japanese Inspirations will take you on a spectacular journey to experience an inspiring celebration of harmony and nature. Join Phipps for a trip to Japan, where festivals are spectacular and the colorful chrysanthemum reigns as king. Explore the festivities as you wander through room after room of stunning Japanese-inspired botanical displays with hundreds of vibrant blooms in dramatic cascades, giant disbuds and other exciting forms. From the show’s giant origami peace cranes, dry garden and serene floating lanterns to a vibrant dragon festival display, Japanese Inspirations will capture the imaginations of visitors of all ages. Phipps’ new show lasts for just three weeks — don’t miss this grand celebration of the season!

Visit the Phipps website for more details about events and exhibitions. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is located at 1 Schenley Drive in Oakland (map).

Love Tea, formerly Love Ramen and Love Yogurt, is now open in Oakland.

Love Ramen, which closed its Atwood St. location in May for renovations, is now open as Love Tea. It is located at 229 Atwood St. (map). Love Ramen's noodle operations moved to Fifth Ave. over the summer. The Atwood St. space was formerly called Love Yogurt, but changed its name to Love Ramen in 2017.

Japanese punk band Shonen Knife returning to Pittsburgh, October 5.

Japanese punk band Shonen Knife will return to Pittsburgh on October 5 for a show at Cattivo (map) as part of its 2019 US tour.

Since their pure DIY beginnings in 1981, Osaka, Japan’s Shonen Knife have been building a faithful following of music enthusiasts and the alternative rock elite. Their relentless journey secured the band’s place as one of the pioneer ambassadors of Japanese rock music and culture on the international stage.

The band features original members (and sisters) Naoko on Vocals and Guitar, Atsuko on Bass and Vocals and introduces their newest member, Risa, on Drums and Vocals.

Akira (アキラ) with Pitt Gamelan, September 18 at Row House Cinema.

Row House Cinema will host Pitt Gamelan for a performance before the September 18 screening of Akira (アキラ).

Celebrate the musical roots of this anime masterpiece! Pitt Gamelan (the University of Pittsburgh’s Indonesian Gamelan group) will be joining us for a pre-show performance to accompany this screening of Akira! Six musicians will be playing a sampling of the music that inspired the film’s iconic soundtrack.

The evening begins at 7:00 pm and tickets are available online. Akira is one of four movies playing from September 13 through 19 as part of Row House Cinema's Anime Film Series. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Art in Smog documentary at Pitt, September 17.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present Lydia Chen's documentary Art in Smog on September 17.

Art in Smog offers an intimate encounter with four artists and a curator in China. Vivid art merges with thoughtful voices to evoke the human search for meaning. Featured are international artists Su Xinping and Xia Xiaowan, painter and antiques connoisseur Mushi, brash curator Cui Cancan, and painter Chen Hui, who expresses a woman’s sense of self in a challenging world.

Their pursuit of art takes them from quiet dreams in the 1990s to the extremes of the 2000s to their different paths forward today. Their lives and their work provide a visually rich glimpse of humanity in a tumultuous society. Footage from 1991 and 2016 documents China’s transformation.

It starts at 4:30 in 4130 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Chuseok (추석) at Pitt, September 15.

The Daehwa Korean Conversation Group at the University of Pittsburgh will present a Chuseok (추석) celebration on September 15.

Join the Daehwa Korean Conversation Club in celebrating one of the most important Korean holidays: Chuseok (추석)!

Chuseok aka mid-autumn festival, is a day for families to gather and give thanks to their ancestors for plentiful harvest. We will have Korean games, opportunities to learn more about Korean culture and most important of all there will be FOOD! Come out and celebrate with us!!

It runs from 1:30 to 4:00 pm in the William Pitt Union Kurtzman Room.

VSA x CASA Mid-Autumn Festival at Pitt, September 22.

The Vietnamese Student Association and the Chinese American Student Association at the University of Pittsburgh will host a Mid-Autumn Festival on September 22.

It is that time of year to celebrate the moon and harvest with Pitt VSA & CASA as we are proud to present our 2019 Mid-Autumn Festival! Our theme this year is UNITY and it is all about how we all are brought together during this special time of year.

**Headlined by: the JROD TWINS**
The JROD Twins have been featured on Superstar K - Kpop Reality Show, WongFu and LeendaDProductions videos!
Check out their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/jrodtwins
A meet and greet will follow after the event.

Come out to the WPU Assembly Room for an evening filled with some amazing performances, cultural activities, mooncakes, and food catered by Golden Palace Buffet. We hope you gather all of your friends and family to come celebrate the festival with us!

It runs from 5:00 to 8:00 pm in the William Pitt Union and is free and open to the public.

3D-animated Chinese movie Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世) to stay in Pittsburgh through September 18.

The new 3D animated Chinese film Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世), which opened in Pittsburgh on August 29, will remain in town through at least September 18. From the distributor:

A young boy, Nezha, is birthed from a heavenly pearl by the Primeval Lord of Heaven. Born with unique powers, Nezha finds himself as an outcast who is hated and feared. Destined by prophecy to bring destruction to the world, the young boy must choose between good and evil in order to break the shackles of fate and become the hero.

It is the highest-grossing Chinese animated film of all time. It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront theater and tickets are available online. 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.