2020 Pittsburgh Chinese New Year Gala, January 18 in Wexford.

The Chinese Association for Science and Technology - Pittsburgh Chapter (CAST-P) and Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center (PCCC), among others, will host the 2020 Pittsburgh Chinese New Year Gala on January 18 at North Allegheny Senior High School.

Sushi Kim 2 Go coming to N. Craig St. in Oakland.

Earlier this month we read that Sushi Kim is closing in the Strip District after 30 years in business, but there plans to open a smaller restaurant in Oakland. That restaurant, Sushi Kim 2 Go, will be located at 312 N. Craig St. (map), in a spot that has been empty for a number of years. The building is owned by a Korean family that operates the dry cleaning business next door.

Documentary Nailed It!, about Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American nail salons throughout the US, at Pitt on February 1.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 2019 documentary Nailed It! on February 1 as part of an Exploring the Asian Diaspora series. From the official site:

In virtually every city, state and strip mall across the U.S., women get their nails done in salons likely owned by Vietnamese entrepreneurs. How did this community come to dominate an $8 billion dollar nail economy? Nailed It takes viewers from Los Angeles to the Bronx to meet the diverse people and relationships behind this booming and enigmatic trade. Nailed It premiered on PBS in May 2019, and is the highest streamed film of the America Reframed series. Uncover the real history of the Vietnamese nail salon!

It runs from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map). Those who wish to attend must register via this link.

Pitt hiring Visiting Lecturer for Japanese Literature and Culture Program for 2020-2021 academic year.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring a Visiting Lecturer in Japanese for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures of the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for the position of Visiting Lecturer for its Japanese Literature and Culture Program, pending budgetary approval. The appointment will begin on September 1, 2020 and end on April 30, 2021. The successful candidate must hold a PhD by the time of appointment and possess broad competence in teaching Japanese studies courses in literature, popular culture, performance, theater, translation studies, or media and film. The successful candidate will teach six undergraduate courses per year, five courses from the aforementioned areas and one course in her/his area of expertise. The candidate should have experience teaching Japan studies courses at a North American institution. Other duties may include mentoring students, normal service duties in the Department, and working with other Asia specialists in the Department and on campus.

Guest Chef Dinner with Chef Nor of KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery, January 23 in Hazelwood.

Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will host an evening with Chef Nor of KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery and Silk Elephant on January 23 as part of its regular Guest Chef Dinner series.

Pitt's Chinese Affinity Group to host New Year's celebration, January 24.

via the Pitt News.

The University of Pittsburgh's Chinese Affinity Group will host a New Year's celebration on January 24. From the University Times:

Part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Pitt Communities, the Chinese Affinity Group will host a party from 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 24 in the ballroom of the O’Hara Student Center.
The celebration will offer networking opportunities with representatives from other Pitt Communities and the Pitt Chinese Student and Scholar Association. Participants can expect games, dance performances and dinner from Sichuan Gourmet.

The event is free and open to the public. The O'Hara Student Center is located at 4024 O'Hara Street in Oakland (map).

2019 Masaaki Yuasa film Ride Your Wave (きみと、波にのれたら) in Pittsburgh, February 19.

Showtimes were just announced for the 2019 Masaaki Yuasa film Ride Your Wave (きみと、波にのれたら) on February 19. From the distributor:

From visionary director Masaaki Yuasa (The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, Devilman Crybaby) comes a deeply emotional new film that applies his trademark visual ingenuity to a tale of romance, grief and self-discovery.

Hinako is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato, a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love. Just as they become inseparable, Minato loses his life in an accident at sea. Hinako is so distraught that she can no longer even look at the ocean, but one day she sings a song that reminds her of their time together, and Minato appears in the water. From then on, she can summon him in any watery surface as soon as she sings their song, but can the two really remain together forever? And what is the real reason for Minato’s sudden reappearance?

So far it has been announced for the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, where it will play in Japanese with English subtitles. Tickets are available online.

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.