2021 movie Gintama: The Very Final (銀魂 THE FINAL) in Pittsburgh, November 21 and 22.

The 2021 movie Gintama: The Very Final (銀魂 THE FINAL) will play in Pittsburgh on November 21 and 22. From the distributor:

This is the actual ending.

The countdown to destruction has begun! All will join to reclaim an Edo in grave peril! Earth is facing its darkest days, and the members of the Odd Jobs must come together to save it from an otherworldly menace.

Old allies Gintoki, Takasugi, and Katsura strive their hardest for their own ideals, but standing in their way is someone with whom they share a sad history: Utsuro, an alternate personality of their former teacher and mentor, Shoyu. Having been spawned by Altana, the energy that fuels all planets, this immortal fiend has regenerated multiple times until finally becoming Utsuro, the ultimate enemy... And he intends to take down the entire world in order to end his own life.

Gintoki and the others set out to fulfill the wishes of their teacher Shoyo and thwart Utsuro's plans. Shinpachi, Kagura, the Shinsengumi, members of the Kabuki District, and even former enemies will join their fight.

As Utsuro's power grows, Takasugi fights for his very life. Will Gintoki be able to put
an end to all this?!

Tickets are available for shows at the AMC Loews Waterfront---note that some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles---though more theaters may be announced one tickets officially go on sale next month.

Asia Now Fall Lecture Series: The Fragmented Spectacle of Chinese Soft Power in Africa, September 27 at Pitt.

via Georgetown University.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Maria Repnikova and her talk "The Fragmented Spectacle of Chinese Soft Power in Africa" on September 27 as part of the Asia Now Fall Lecture Series.

This lecture by Dr. Maria Repnikova, Georgia State University, presents the multifaceted story of China’s soft power campaigns in Africa, with a special focus on Ethiopia—one of China’s closest economic and political partners on the continent. Countering the claims of China’s authoritarian export, the analysis of China’s engagement with Ethiopian elites, youth and media audiences, showcases what I describe as a “fragmented spectacle” — a grand, but disjointed display of China’s prowess. In particular, China’s soft power appeal is rooted in generosity of scale or the large-scale access to its initiatives. And yet, when it comes to building relationships, it produces fragmented or contested Sino-African solidarities. The lecture will specifically highlight how performative, material and discursive solidarity works and the tensions that override these different Sino-African encounters. This talk, which draws on a larger book project, demonstrates that the idea of a moral competition is largely a product of the US insecurity about losing out to China, in what many US officials see as the last frontier, rather than an accurate depiction of Chinese activities in Africa.

The event runs from 4:30 to 5:45 at 211 Lawrence Hall (map) on the 27th. It is open to members of the university community who are following Pitt's COVID-19 safety guidelines. Registration is required.

Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) in Pittsburgh, October 3, 4, and 6.

The 2001 Japanese film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play in Pittsburgh on October 3, 4, and 6 as part of this year's Studio Ghibli Fest 2021. From the distributor:

Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki's wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation.

Chihiro's family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. The October 3 and 6 shows are dubbed in English while the October 4 show is in Japanese with English subtitles.

2021 Korean film Made On The Rooftop (메이드 인 루프탑) at ReelQ Film Festival, October 14.

The 2021 Korean film Made On The Rooftop (메이드 인 루프탑) will play at Pittsburgh's 36th annual ReelQ Film Festival on October 14.

This quirky romantic comedy starts with a heartbreak, as Ha-neul must leave his uptight and closeted boyfriend and seek comfort and shelter from his BFF, where he gets sympathy and fashion advice along with a place to crash. Directed by Kim Jho Gwang-soo. In Korean with English subtitles.

It will be available to watch online on the 14th from 7:00 pm, and pre-order is available now.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration at Pitt, September 21.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Cener and Global Hub will host a Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on September 21 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Join the Asian Studies Center and Global Hub in celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival! Take some refreshments to-go, make a paper lantern, and enter for a chance to win tickets to the Asian Lantern Festival at the Pittsburgh Zoo or some Screenshot:Asia swag.

It will be held at the Global Hub, located on the 1st floor of Posvar Hall (map). It is open to members of the Pitt community who are following COVID safety protocols; university buildings are currently not open to the public.

Lineup for October's SCREENSHOT:ASIA film festival announced; selections from China, Korea, Japan, and Asian-America included.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present its first annual SCREENSHOT:ASIA film festival from October 6 through 10th, and it recently announced the full line-up.


Selections from East Asia include Back to the Wharf (风平浪静) from China, An Old Lady (69세) from Korea, and Wife of a Spy (スパイの妻) and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (偶然と想像). Tickets are now available online.

Screening of 2009 documentary Vincent Who?, on 1982 Vincent Chen murder, September 27 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present a screening of the documentary Vincent Who? on September 27. From the film's official site:

In 1982, at the height of anti-Japanese sentiments arising from massive layoffs in the auto industry, a Chinese-American named Vincent Chin was murdered in Detroit by two white autoworkers. Chin's killers, however, got off with a $3,000 fine and 3 years probation, but no jail time. Outraged by this injustice, Asian Americans around the country united for the first time across ethnic and socioeconomic lines to form a pan-Asian identity and civil rights movement.

Among its significant outcomes, the movement led to the historic broadening of federal civil rights protection to include all people in America regardless of immigrant status or ethnicity.

VINCENT WHO? explores this important legacy through interviews with the key players at the time as well as a whole new generation of activists whose lives were impacted by Vincent Chin. It also looks at the case in relation to the larger narrative of Asian American history, in such events as Chinese Exclusion, Japanese American Internment in WWII, the 1992 L.A. Riots, anti-Asian hate crimes, and post-9/11 racial profiling.

Ultimately, VINCENT WHO? asks how far Asian Americans have come since the case and how far they have yet to go.

It will be followed by a Q-and-A session with the film's producer. The event will be held from 7:00 pm in the William Pitt Union (map) Dining Room A, safety permitting, or online via Zoom; it's free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Pittsburgh Public Schools hiring ESL teacher with proficiency in Chinese.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools is hiring an English as a Second Language teacher, with a proficiency in Chinese, for the Squirrel Hill area.

Salary

Paraprofessional Salary Schedule (starting at $3, 061/month)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Qualifications

- A High School diploma or equivalent is required.
- At least sixty (60) college credits in a related area are also required.
- Written and oral proficiency in English and Chinese is a prerequisite for this position
- Experience working with students where English is their second language, specifically Chinese, is preferred.
- Vocational experience in an urban setting is preferred.
- Familiarity with various student assistive devices is also preferred.

Residency RequirementsCity of Pittsburgh Residency Required

Essential Job Functions

1. Assisting the classroom teacher with the use of instructional materials and technology
2. Making phone calls, arranging meetings, and facilitating other related parent outreach
3. Maintaining confidentiality when discussing individual students and/or families
4. Implementing culturally responsive instructional techniques with ESL students
5. Utilizing culturally responsive behavioral strategies with ESL students
6. Assisting the teacher with class preparation and/or lesson implementation
7. Supporting ESL instruction in small student groups as needed
8. Adhering to all building level duties and responsibilities
9. Preparing and organizing teacher materials and classroom supplies as necessary
10. Supervising and assisting students in the completion of their assignments
11. Monitoring students in the classroom, at lunch, and at recess, as well as in transit from one area to another
12. Assisting with the implementation of the prescribed course of ESL study and behavior management plans for each student
13. Assisting in completion of all clerical duties
14. Assisting with student transportation, such as meeting a cab outside or assisting students with boarding the correct school bus
15. Assisting in the maintenance and care of equipment
16. Assisting on fields trips

Pitt hiring full-time Korean instructor for Fall 2022.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures is hiring a full-time instructor instructor of Korean to start in the Fall 2022 term.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh (hhtp://www.deall.pitt.edu) invites applications for the position of Instructor for its Korean language program, pending budgetary approval. The appointment will begin on September 1, 2022. The candidate must hold an MA degree in teaching Korean as a second language, foreign language teaching, applied linguistics, or a related field by the time of appointment and possess broad competence in teaching Korean language courses. The new hire will teach six Korean courses on all levels of both lectures and recitations per year. The successful candidate should have at least one year’s experience teaching Korean language courses at a North American higher education institution, preferably in person. Other duties may include mentoring students, normal service duties in the Department, and working with other Asia specialists in the Department and on campus.

Applicants should send a letter of application, CV, teaching demonstration of a Korean language class, evidence of teaching ability (e. g., student teaching evaluations), sample syllabus for one course, statements of teaching philosophy, and diversity and inclusion, and the names and contact information for three persons able to provide confidential professional letters of recommendation (we do not need the letters themselves at this time, but we do need the names of the recommenders). to the University of Pittsburgh’s Talent Center.

For more information, contact Victoria Donahoe (vjd8@pitt.edu). In order to ensure full consideration, applications must be received by November 16, 2021.

"Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) Info Session," October 12 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) Info Session on October 12. It will be an online meeting by the Consulate General of New York and JET alumni.

Please join us at this information session to learn more about the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program in the Global Hub, 1st floor Posvar Hall. To register for Zoom virtual attendance, click here

The session will be held at the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map). It is not open to the public, only to the Pitt community following university COVID safety protocols.