The Island of Cats (ねことじいちゃん) to open Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, March 20.

The fifth annual Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival at the Row House Cinema will open on March 20 with two screenings of The Island of Cats (ねことじいちゃん).

Let’s embrace our feline friends for a night of carefree fun! It's Opening Night of The Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival. We’re turning Row House Cinema into a cat “island” oasis and showing THE ISLAND OF CATS

With live cats on-site, cat decor, photo opportunities with cat guests and more! All attendees get complimentary cat swag, popcorn, and Ramune Japanese soda.

Tickets will be available shortly. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

"Japanese Action Comic Punk band" Peelander-Z returns to Pittsburgh, April 28.

Japanese punk band Peelander-Z will play in Pittsburgh on April 28. Wikipedia provides an overview of their live shows:

They perform on stage and appear in color-coordinated costumes, which they state are not costumes, but their skin. The costumes range from sentai style suits, to kimono, to rubber Playmobil style wigs. There is also a tiger costume and a giant squid/guitar costume to coincide with the song "Mad Tiger". Another aspect of their routine is their on-stage antics such as human bowling (diving head-first into bowling pins), pretending to hit each other with chairs in imitation of pro-wrestlers, and mid-performance piggyback rides. They often allow audience members on stage to join in on the fun, and often dive into the audience or hang from a balcony as part of their act.

They will play at Club Cafe on the South Side (map) and tickets for the 21+ show are available online.

Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul (劇場版メイドインアビス 深き魂の黎明) in Pittsburgh, April 13 and 15.

The 2020 Japanese movie Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul (劇場版メイドインアビス 深き魂の黎明) will play in Pittsburgh on April 13 and 15.

Dawn of the Deep Soul continues the epic adventure of plucky Riko and Reg who are joined by their new friend Nanachi. Together they descend into the Abyss’ treacherous fifth layer, the Sea of Corpses, and encounter the mysterious Bondrewd, a legendary White Whistle whose shadow looms over Nanachi’s troubled past. Bondrewd is ingratiatingly hospitable, but the brave adventurers know things are not always as they seem in the enigmatic Abyss...

It will play at the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online; the April 13 show is dubbed in English while the April 15 is in Japanese with English subtitles.

Free Chinese, Japanese, Korean classes in Pittsburgh in March.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will continue to offer free Chinese, Japanese, and Korean classes at some of its branches in March. Check out the class information below in addition to its language resources on the shelves and online.

As the library notes: these classes are free; registration is not required; no materials are needed and nothing needs to be bought; new participants are welcome at any time; classes are for adults (unless otherwise noted) but well-behaved young people are welcome to join as well.

Pitt sends message to its student community about racism and xenophobia against Asian students.

Kenyon Bonner, the Vice Provost and Dean of Students at the University of Pittsburgh, sent an announcement to the Pitt student population yesterday about the coronavirus's potential impact on health and well-being. The message also included a message about curbing racism and xenophobia that has been directed against Asian-American and international students at Pitt:

In addition to our physical wellness, it is important that during this time we remain committed to our communal well-being. Pitt aims to be an inclusive community in which everyone feels like they belong and are valued. Disappointedly, some members of our community have used the coronavirus as a vehicle to spew hateful rhetoric targeted at some of our international, Asian American students, and people who are perceived to have been in contact with COVID-19. This type of treatment is wrong, insensitive, harmful, and contrary to the University’s values. Although this outbreak started in China, having Chinese ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not place a person at higher risk for this illness.

As you discuss the coronavirus, please keep a few considerations in mind:

• Memes and jokes often stem from offensive stereotypes
• Jokes about Asian connections to the coronavirus normalize racist and discriminatory behavior
• Fact-check information before sharing on social media. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) are credible resources
• Empathize with those who have contracted COVID-19 or whose friends or family may be at risk, rather than blaming them
• Read the WHO A Guide to Preventing and Addressing Social Stigma

Together, we can make our campus feel inclusive for everyone by treating each other with dignity and respect and sharing accurate information with our fellow community members.

Input requested for potential Asian American Studies Program at Pitt.

Groups at the University of Pittsburgh are gathering information to advocate for the creation of an Asian American Studies minor or certificate program.

The Asian Student Alliance's University Affairs Committee (UAC) is hoping to create an Asian American Studies Program that will be accompanied by an Asian American Studies Certificate. Unlike the Asian Studies Certificate that is granted through the Asian Studies Center, which focuses on topics and issues in Asia, the Asian American Studies Program and Certificate will focus mainly on Asian American issues and topics. This means the certificate will focus moreso on issues in America that concern and affect Asian Americans. Examples of possible topics include (1) affirmative action, (2) the model minority myth, (3) representation in Western/American media; and (4) Asian American history. The University Affairs Committee is looking to record responses from individuals that will show why an Asian American Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh is important and necessary. Select testimonials will be included in a larger presentation that will be shown to University of Pittsburgh faculty and staff.

Those interested in sharing their thoughts and testimonials are invited to complete this Google Doc.

City-Paper: How Jasmine Cho's 'pursuit of all things yummy' turned into a hunger for Asian American representation.

Yesterday the Pittsburgh City-Paper profiled local baker, author, and activist Jasmine Cho, who has followed a big 2019 with scheduled appearances at the East Coast Asian American Student Union and the Pittsburgh Humanities Festival.

Jasmine Cho laughs as she says this, but it's no joke. In the past year, the artist, cookie activist, and founder of Yummyholic has published a book, given a TEDx talk, been featured in national media like NPR and the Huffington Post, placed first in a Food Network competition, and had Mayor Bill Peduto officially proclaim Jan. 28 Jasmine Cho day; all of this achieved while Cho pursued an art therapy degree from Carlow University.

Cho’s step into the spotlight has stemmed gradually from her unique combination of cookie art and social justice. Today, the Los Angeles native and current Pittsburgher uses cookies to initiate conversations on race. Cho creates intricate portraits of important Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, using cookies to give representation to a historically underrepresented community.

Profiles of KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery.

Yesterday the Pittsburgh City-Paper profiled KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery, which opened in November in the space formerly occupied by Bangkok Balcony.

In early September, Norraset (Nor) and Rujira Nareedokmai closed their beloved Thai restaurant, Bangkok Balcony, after a 15-year run. But fans of the Squirrel Hill restaurant can rest easy: The Nareedokmais aren't going anywhere, just shifting their focus a little to the northeast. KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery is now open in Bangcok Balcony's former spot with a mix of Thao and Laotian cuisines.

Because the more than thousand-mile border shared between Laos and Thailand is so blurred — the regions have passed flavors for centuries — I expected the menu to be a jumble of dishes from both countries. But instead, it’s divided neatly in half, the Lao side full of noodle soups and sticky rice; Thai delivering curries and stir-fry noodles. The separation allows diners to see where the two cuisines diverge as well as where they connect. And for the devoted fans of Bangkok Balcony, the split makes it easy to find favorites that were carried over to KIIN.

Pittsburgh Magazine and NextPittsburgh also reviewed the new restaurant last fall.

2019 Chinese animated film White Snake (白蛇：缘起) in Pittsburgh, March 3.

The Row House Cinema will host the Pittsburgh premiere of the 2019 Chinese animated film White Snake (白蛇：缘起) on March 3. The distributor writes:

From Light Chaser Animation, one of China’s premiere animation studios, comes a visually stunning new take on a classic legend. One day a young woman named Blanca is saved by Xuan, a snake catcher from a nearby village. She has lost her memory, and together they go on a journey to discover her real identity, developing deeper feelings for one another along the way. But as they learn more about her past, they uncover a darker plot of supernatural forces vying for power, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Conceived as a prequel to one of the most ancient and enduring stories in Chinese history, White Snake presents a sumptuous tale of trickster demons, deadly mythical beasts, assassins, wuxia action, and the promise of eternal love.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

History of Boba workshop, March 1 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Taiwanese Student Association will host a History of Boba workshop on March 1.

When was boba created? How was boba made back then and what inspired the creators to innovate this refreshing drink? Come out to Pitt TSA’s History of Boba Workshop to learn more about the boba and at the end, you can even create your own boba!

It runs from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in 630 William Pitt Union (map).