Japanese Coming-of-Age Ceremony (成人の日) at Pitt for students turning 20, January 10.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and English Language Institute will hold its annual Seijin-no-shiki (Coming of Age) ceremony on January 10 for students turning 20. The idea emerged three years ago because Pitt's ELI hosts a large cohort of Yasuda Women's University students each year who miss the traditional ceremony offered in Hiroshima. Several local publications---including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tribune Review, and City-Paper---have covered the ceremony over the last two years. Meanwhile, Japan Visitor introduces the day and its traditions:

Seijin Shiki or 成人式 could be translated as 'Coming of Age Day Ceremony' in English. Seijin-no-hi (Coming of Age Day) is a Japanese public holiday that occurs on every second Monday of January.

Coming of Age Day or Adult's Day honors every person that has turned 20 years old over the past year. When young people reach twenty they officially become adults in Japanese society and they now have responsibilities as well as newfound liberties: such as being able to drink, smoke, go to hostess bars, gamble and to drive legally. The voting age was lowered from 20 to 18 in 2015.

The girls always wear gorgeous and very expensive kimono, although most admit to having rentals as the outfit is worth up to 1,000,000 yen. The boys usually wear a regular suit and tie but a few will wear traditional Japanese dress.

The event starts at 7:00 pm in the University Club's Ballroom A (map).

2019 Makoto Shinkai film Weathering With You (天気の子) in Pittsburgh, January 15 and 16.

The 2019 Makoto Shinkai film Weathering With You (天気の子) will play in and around Pittsburgh on January 15. From the distributor:

GKIDS proudly presents the highly-anticipated new film from director Makoto Shinkai and producer Genki Kawamura, the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed, global smash hit Your Name. The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. The weather is unusually gloomy and rainy every day, as if to suggest his future. He lives his days in isolation, but finally finds work as a writer for a mysterious occult magazine. Then one day, Hodaka meets Hina on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky…

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, Southside Works Cinema, and Cinemark in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Shows at 7:00 pm on the 15th will be dubbed in English, while those at 8:00 pm are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Japan Association of Greater Pittsburgh's 2020年度新年会のご案内/ New Year Party 2020, January 19 (registration deadline January 12).

The Japan Association of Greater Pittsburgh (JAGP) will hold its annual 2020年度新年会のご案内/ New Year Party 2020 on January 19 at Happy Home Buffet in the North Hills (map). Events include a buffet dinner, presentations from local Japanese groups, and a raffle. Registration and payment is required by January 12. Please visit the group's website for more information.

Singer Jason Chen at Pitt, January 18.

The University of Pittsburgh's Chinese American Student Association and Vietnamese Student Association will host Taiwanese-American singer Jason Chen on January 18, part of the Pitt VSA x CASA Lunar New Year 2020 festivities.

New movie Ip Man 4: The Finale (葉問4：完結篇) stays in Pittsburgh through January 15.

The 2019 Chinese film Ip Man 4: The Finale (葉問4：完結篇), which opened in Pittsburgh on January 3, will remain here through at least January 15. From the distributor:

Donnie Yen reprises his role as the legendary Wing Chun master in the grand finale of the revolutionary martial arts series. Following the death of his wife, Ip Man travels to San Francisco to ease tensions between the local kung fu masters and his star student, Bruce Lee, while searching for a better future for his son. From the action visionary behind Kill Bill and The Matrix, witness the heroic sendoff to the saga that inspired a new wave of martial arts movie fans.

It plays at the AMC Loews Waterfront and 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.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) to stay in Pittsburgh through January 15.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충), which opened in Pittsburgh on November 1, ran through December 19, and returned to Pittsburgh on January 3, will stay here through at least January 15.

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

Parasite won the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and 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.

Greenfield-based education consultant Forward Pathway (续航教育) hiring bilingual Mandarin-English Application Specialist.

Forward Pathway (续航教育), a Chinese education consulting firm that opened in Greenfield in 2016 is hiring a bilingual Mandarin-English Application Specialist. An excerpt from the job ad:

Job responsibilities:
- Prepare and verify application materials for students
- Help students complete online applications
- Follow up the applications of students and communicate with the school in a timely manner
- Prepare pre-enrollment materials for students

Requirements:
- Passionate about a career in education regarding studying abroad
- Strong responsibility for work and being detail-oriented
- Strong English reading and writing skills
- Good teamwork spirit and ability to work under pressure

Susan Lieu and "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother" at Pitt, January 10.

The University of Pittsburgh's Vietnamese Student Association will host playwright Susan Lieu and her "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother" on January 10, 2020.

The Vietnamese Student Association presents: Susan Lieu x 140 LBS: HOW BEAUTY KILLED MY MOTHER.

Susan Lieu is a Vietnamese-American playwright, performer, director and activist. “140 LBS” is an emotional solo performance written and performed by Susan and directed by Sarah Prokalob that tells the story of Susan’s mother who passed away in surgery due to medical malpractice. The performance brings to awareness “the multi-generational immigrant experience, body insecurity and shame, repression and subsequent examination of personal loss, lack of accountability in the medical system, and the Vietnamese folkloric practice of spirit channeling.” Susan is currently on a national tour to bring this story into the lives of others and to start a discussion on important topics relevant to today’s society.

Lunar New Year Celebration, January 19 at Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh will hold its annual Lunar New Year Celebration on January 19.

In ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on the Lunar New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. Come kick off the Lunar year 4718, the year of the rat, at MuseumLab.

Try Chinese calligraphy with Ming Rui, and enjoy live performances by Yan Lai Dance Academy, Purple Bamboo Chinese Ensemble, and Steel Dragon Lion Dance Team. Stop by MAKESHOP to explore Kumihimo, a Japanese form of braid-making. Kumi himo is Japanese for "gathered threads". The technique involves using different types of looms to create countless kinds of braids! You can even taste some of our favorite fruits and learn about the Vietnamese Five Fruit Tray tradition. Visit the University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center to learn about Korean traditions and games. Discover a new art work in Tech Lab by Artist Jordan Wong.

Performance Schedule Coming Soon!

The celebration is free with museum admission ($16 for adults, $14 for kids aged 2 through 18, and free for infants under 2). The museum is located at 10 Children's Way on the Northside (map), though the celebration will be in a newer adjoining space called MuseumLab.

Sushi Kim closes, Sushi Kim 2 Go coming soon to Oakland.

Sushi Kim in the Strip District has closed, according to The Incline. It also writes that it will open Sushi Kim 2 Go in Oakland in March.

The restaurant has closed after 30 years, though articles announcing its closure after 25 years were out five years ago.