Asian Lantern Festival returns to Pittsburgh Zoo, August 12 - October 30; tickets available from July 1 for members.

The Pittsburgh Zoo will host the second annual Asian Lantern Festival from August 12 through October 30.

Something big is roaring back to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium this fall: the Asian Lantern Festival will return with an all-new display!

Explore the Zoo at night among more than 50 glowing, larger-than-life handcrafted sculptures, featuring extinct and endangered animals. Learn about Asian culture and enjoy themed food and entertainment.

You won’t want to miss the all-new Asian Lantern Festival, select nights Friday, August 12 – Sunday, October 30.

Tickets for members are available July 1.

Japanese animated films Belle (竜とそばかすの姫), Paprika (パプリカ), The Deer King (鹿の王), Panda! Go Panda! (パンダ・コパンダ) at Row House Cinema, from July 15.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville will present a collection of Japanese animated films from July 15 as part of an Anime film series. Belle (竜とそばかすの姫), Paprika (パプリカ), and The Deer King (鹿の王) will play from July 15 through 21, while 1973's Panda! Go Panda! (パンダ・コパンダ) will play on the 21st only. Tickets are now available online.

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

2016 Japanese film One Piece Film: Gold (ワンピースフィルムゴールド) in Pittsburgh, July 24 and 26.

The 2016 Japanese film One Piece Film: Gold (ワンピースフィルムゴールド) will play in Pittsburgh on July 24 and 26. A synopsis from the distributor:

The glittering Gran Tesoro, a city of entertainment beyond the laws of the government, is a sanctuary for the world’s most infamous pirates, Marines, and filthy rich millionaires. Drawn by dreams of hitting the jackpot, Captain Luffy and his crew sail straight for the gold. But behind the gilded curtains lies a powerful king whose deep pockets and deeper ambitions spell disaster for the Straw Hats and the New World alike.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. The July 24 shows are dubbed in English while the July 26 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles.

2022 Japanese animated film Fruits Basket: Prelude (フルーツバスケット－prelude－) in Pittsburgh, June 25, 28, 29.

The 2022 Japanese animated film Fruits Basket: Prelude (フルーツバスケット－prelude－) will play in Pittsburgh on June 25, 28, and 29. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Before there was Tohru and Kyo – there was Katsuya and Kyoko. Discover the turbulent beginning of Tohru’s mom’s dark past, and the man who breathed new hope into her. Watch the evolution of their love story and the birth of the Honda family, as this chapter completes the full adaptation of the heartwarming Fruits Basket story.

It will play locally at the Cinemark theater in the North Hills, and tickets are available online. The shows on the 25th and 29th are dubbed in English while the shows on the 28th are in Japanese with English subtitles.

2002 Studio Ghibli film The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し) in Pittsburgh, June 26 and 27.

The 2002 Studio Ghibli film The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し) will play in Pittsburgh on June 26 and 27 as part of this year's Studio Ghilbli Fest. A synopsis, from the distributor:

In this sequel to Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical feline world and must find her inner strength to make her way back home. Walking with her friend after a dreary day at school, Haru eyes a cat with a small gift box in its mouth attempting to cross a busy street. The cat fumbles the package in the middle of the road as a truck is rapidly bearing down. Haru manages to scoop the cat away to safety. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely.

Strange behavior indeed, but this is nothing compared to what happens later that evening when the King of Cats shows up in a feline motorcade replete with vassals, maidens, and even Secret Service cats. In a show of gratitude for saving his son’s life, the king cat showers Haru with gifts – including a large supply of individually wrapped live mice – and decrees that she shall marry the cat prince and come to live as a princess in the secret Kingdom of Cats.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. Please note, the June 26 show at 3:00 pm is dubbed in English, while 7:00 pm and June 27 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Japanese films Macross Frontier: The False Songstress (劇場版 マクロスF 虚空歌姫 〜イツワリノウタヒメ〜) and Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell (劇場版 マクロスF 恋離飛翼 〜サヨナラノツバサ〜) in Pittsburgh, June 16 and 30 (respectively).

The Japanese animated films Macross Frontier: The False Songstress (劇場版 マクロスF 虚空歌姫 〜イツワリノウタヒメ〜) and Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell (劇場版 マクロスF 恋離飛翼 〜サヨナラノツバサ〜) will play in Pittsburgh on June 16 and June 30, respectively. A synopsis of 2009's The False Songstress:

It is the year 2059. Following the near destruction of the human race 50 years prior, humankind has embarked upon an interstellar emigration project. The Macross Frontier fleet is on its way towards the center of the galaxy when it encounters a hostile alien species known as the Vajra. A concert by touring popstar Sheryl Nome becomes ground zero of an attack where both flight school trainee Alto Saotome and aspiring singer Ranka Lee are caught up in the chaos. Shocked by the experience, Alto resolves to join a private military contractor, the Strategic Military Services (S.M.S.) to protect his friends and soon finds himself piloting the latest state-of-the-art variable fighter, the VF-25 Messiah. All the while, with both Alto and Sheryl’s encouragement, Ranka begins the rigorous pursuit of becoming an idol singer. As a budding love triangle starts to bloom between the three, suspicions are raised as to what the Vajra’s actual objective is and who is really behind the attacks. When Sheryl learns that her home, the Macross Galaxy fleet, has been attacked, she calls the S.M.S. into action and Macross Frontier becomes the stage for an epic showdown!

And 2011's The Wings of Farewell:

In the aftermath of the events of The False Songstress, Sheryl Nome remains aboard the Macross Frontier as her health begins to rapidly deteriorate. Meanwhile, Ranka Lee has become a singing sensation in her own right and prepares for her debut concert just as a joint military operation to hunt down the Vajra Queen gets underway. After losing his VF-25 variable fighter as a result of the skirmish, Alto Saotome is hospitalized and the two songstresses rush to his side. Just as their love triangle is about to reach its climax, the architects behind the Vajra attacks are uncovered and Sheryl finds herself behind bars, accused of treason. It’s now a race against time for Ranka and the Strategic Military Services (S.M.S.) to rescue their friend and stop the real conspirators controlling the Vajra, all while trying to protect their alien homeworld. The climactic finale of emotions, music and mecha action comes to a close as Alto must face one of the most important choices of his life.

They will play in Japanese with English subtitles at the AMC Loews Waterfront and Cinemark theater in Monroeville, and tickets for False Songstress and The Wings of Fairewell are available online.

1964 film Mothra vs. Godzilla (モスラ対ゴジラ) at Row House Cinema, June 9.

The 1964 Japanese film Mothra vs. Godzilla (モスラ対ゴジラ) will play at Row House Cinema on June 9.

Journalists Ichiro Sakai and Junko cover the wreckage of a typhoon when an enormous egg is found and claimed by greedy entrepreneurs. Mothra’s fairies arrive and are aided by the journalists in a plea for its return. As their requests are denied, Godzilla arises near Nagoya and the people of Infant Island must decide if they are willing to answer Japan’s own pleas for help.

The show is in Japanese with English subtitles, and tickets for the 7:25 pm show are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Pittsburgh Pirates acquire Taiwanese baseball player Yu Chang (張育成).

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Taiwanese baseball player Yu Chang (張育成) from the Cleveland Guardians today for cash considerations. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes of the infielder:

Chang, 26, was designated for assignment on Thursday. He has played parts of four years in Cleveland, hitting .208 with a .637 OPS in 131 games, with his best year coming in 2021.

Chang played 89 games that season and hit .228 with a .693 OPS, compiling 14 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 32 runs scored.

. . .

He’s been worth 8 Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant, and is capable of playing all four infield positions.

Assuming he plays for the Pirates he will be the second Taiwanese player in team history, after Wei-Chung Wang in 2019, though there have been numerous Taiwanese prospects in the minor league system over the last two decades.

Kpop Dance Workshops at Yanlai Dance Academy, July 31, August 7, 14, 21.

Yanlai Dance Academy will once again offer Kpop Dance Workshops, with this summer's sessions scheduled for July 31, August 7, 14, and 21.

Join us for an hour-long class where you will learn a popular K-pop dance! Or join us for all 8 classes!
Ages 10 and up. All dance levels welcome!
Drop-in $15. All 8 classes $100.
Specific song schedule will be released June 10.
Class 1: July 31 | 3:45-4:45pm | TBD
Class 2: July 31 | 4:45-5:45pm | TBD
Class 3: Aug 7 | 3:45-4:45pm | TBD
Class 4: Aug 7 | 4:45-5:45pm | TBD
Class 5: Aug 14 | 3:45-4:45pm | TBD
Class 6: Aug 14 | 4:45-5:45pm | TBD
Class 7: Aug 21 | 3:45-4:45pm | TBD
Class 8: Aug 21 | 4:45-5:45pm | TBD
Follow Yanlai Dance Academy on Facebook or Instagram for up-to-date-information

Yanlai Dance Academy is located at 2260 Babcock Boulevard in the North Hills (map).

2021 Japanese film Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (漁港の肉子ちゃん) in Pittsburgh, June 2.

Showtimes were just announced for the 2021 Japanese film Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (漁港の肉子ちゃん), which will play in Pittsburgh on June 2. A synopsis, from the distributor:

From acclaimed director Ayumu Watanabe (Children of the Sea) and STUDIO4℃ (Tekkonkinkreet, Mind Game, Animatrix), Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko is a heartwarming and moving comedy-drama about an unconventional family, based on the popular novel by Kanako Nishi.

Nikuko is a brash, jolly, scattered, and passionate woman in an otherwise sleepy seaside town in northern Japan. She’s also the single mother of 11-year-old Kikuko, who is her opposite in many ways. Kikuko is a string-bean of a young girl, pensive, quietly curious, and methodical in how she approaches life in this small harbor town.

Nikuko embarrasses Kikuko as any mom of a preteen would, but Nikuko’s bold spirit makes her especially well-known in a town where Kikuko herself wants nothing more than to simply blend in. As Kikuko navigates the everyday social dramas of middle school, enhanced with touches of magical realism from her ever-present imagination, a shocking revelation from the past threatens to uproot the pair’s tender relationship.

This one night event will feature an exclusive introduction by director Ayumu Watanabe and Executive Producer Sanma Akashiya.

It will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark Theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.