Pittsburgh Pirates sign Taiwanese pitching prospect Po-Yu Chen (陳柏毓).

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed 19-year-old pitcher Po-Yu Chen (陳柏毓) out of Taoyuan, Taiwan.

The Pirates set their sights on Chen, viewing him as equivalent to a second-round-type talent in the MLB Draft, but needed to obtain more international bonus pool space to sign him. So on Sept. 20, the last day to make such trades, they sent left-hander Domingo Robles to the Cardinals and right-hander Conner Loeprich to the Orioles, acquiring bonus pool slots in each deal.

[General Manager] Cherington said the Pirates have been scouting Chen for three years, writing up more than 25 reports on him.

“In particular, our scout in Taiwan, Fu Chun Chiang, did a great job getting to know Po-Yu and his family and putting us in a position to sign him,” Cherington said. “I enjoyed meeting Po-Yu this week in Pittsburgh, and we look forward to working with him in the years to come.

Chen received a $1.25 million signing bonus, according to the team's beat writer. The Pirates signed one other Taiwanese player in 2019-2020: 17-year old Cheng Tsung-Che (鄭宗哲).

JET Program 2021 info session, October 22 at Pitt.

via Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons) 

The Pittsburgh JET Alumni Association will present its annual JET Program 2021 info session with the University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center on October 22. The event will run from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, though login details are still pending.

It's time for Pitt's annual info session; this year it'll be fully online. I (Smitha) will be leading it, and JET alumni (especially recent returnees) are more than welcome to attend and share your experiences with prospectives. Will include more info as I get it, including info on how to join (Pitt is hosting it), but the date/time are confirmed as of yesterday. This should be an interesting one, as there are plenty of unknowns related to the Coronavirus.

K-Pop/FRESA Virtual Showcase, November 5 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Fresh Entertainment by Student Artists (FRESA) will present K-Pop/FRESA Virtual Showcase on November 5, part of the university's International Week. The online showcase will run from 8:00 to 9:30 pm, and login details should be available shortly.

2018 Taiwanese movie Dear Ex (誰先愛上他的) online at Pitt, October 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2018 Taiwanese movie Dear Ex (誰先愛上他的) on October 14 as part of its Watch Party Wednesdays series. From a 2019 New York Times review:

Following the death of his father (Spark Chen), [13-year-old] Chengxi finds himself caught between his mother, Sanlian (Hsieh Ying-hsuan), and Jay (Roy Chiu), a man for whom his father left his family. Chengxi has been written out of his late father’s insurance policy, and all of the money will now go to Jay — as soon as Sanlian signs off on it. Chengxi copes with the resulting fight by moving in with Jay (to the displeasure of both adults), drawn to the man’s mercurial nature and relationship with his father.

The 7:00 pm event is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Discussion of Leslie Chang's Factory Girls, October 15 with University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center.

The University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center will host a discussion of Leslie Chang's 2008 book Factory Girls on October 15.

This reading group for educators explores literary texts from a global perspective. Content specialists present the work and its context, and together we brainstorm innovative pedagogical practices for incorporating the text and its themes into the curriculum. Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 5-7:30 PM. Books and Act 48 credit are provided.

“Music, Sound, and Nostalgia in My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies" with Pitt's Department of Music, October 29.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Music will host Visiting Scholar Kunio Hara and his lecture "Music, Sound, and Nostalgia in My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies" online on October 29.

Jasmine Cho with Pitt's Asian Student Alliance, October 9.

The Asian Student Alliance at the University of Pittsburgh will host Jasmine Cho on October 9.

Wait no longer...Pitt ASA is hosting our FIRST speaker event of the year! On October 9th 2020, we are honored to be hosting Jasmine M. Cho, Pittsburgh based artist, author and cookie activist.

Founder of Yummyholic, an online bakery specializing in novelty and custom cookies, Jasmine is known for her portrait cookies that elevates representation for the AAPI community. She sees the kitchen as a way to intersect social justice and baking. One cookie at a time, Jasmine takes hard to digest topics and makes them edible!

Date and Time: Friday, October 9th 2020, 7:30PM
Zoom Link: WILL POST SOON

This is a perfect Friday Night event! Warm up some apple cider, make a meal with you

New Chinese movie My People, My Homeland (我和我的家乡) in Pittsburgh, from October 9.

The new Chinese movie My People, My Homeland (我和我的家乡) will play in Pittsburgh from October 9.

An anthology consisting of five stories, this sequel to 2019’s megahit film MY PEOPLE, MY COUNTRY is produced by the legendary Zhang Yimou (director of CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, HERO, RAISE THE RED LANTERN and JU DOU). With an ensemble of the most talented actors and actresses from Greater China, the stories tie into the spirit of country in a comical, dramatic and touching way.

It will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront 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.

Nakama again voted best Japanese food in Pittsburgh by readers of Pittsburgh City-Paper. GetGo not named Best Sushi.

The results of the 2020 Pittsburgh City-Paper Readers' Poll were released today and Nakama was again voted as Best Japanese food in Pittsburgh. Sichuan Gourmet was voted Best Chinese, Bae-Bae's Kitchen Best Korean, Nicky's Thai Kitchen as Best Thai, The Slippery Mermaid as Best Sushi, and Tram's Kitchen as Best Vietnamese.

2004 Japanese film 2004's Nobody Knows (誰も知らない) with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, October 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 2004 Japanese film 2004's Nobody Knows (誰も知らない) on October 14, the second of a three-part series of Hirokazu Koreeda films. A brief introduction, from a 2005 Roger Ebert review:

As "Nobody Knows" opens, we watch a mother and two kids moving into a new apartment. They wrestle some heavy suitcases up the stairs. When the movers have left, they open the suitcases and release two younger children, who are a secret from the landlord. "Remember the new rules," the mother says. "No going outside. Not even on the veranda -- except for Kyoko, to do the laundry."

The film will be presented with comments from Dr. Charles Exley of Pitt's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures. Registration for the free 7:00 pm event is required.