Pittsburgh Pirates acquire Ji-man Choi (최지만) from Tampa Bay.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired firstbaseman Ji-man Choi (최지만) from Tampa Bay. Choi, has played on four different teams over his seven years in the league, and has found his most success and longevity with the Rays over the last five years. As has been the fashion with the Pirates and seasoned players, he figures to provide a solid veteran presence at 1B, at least for part of the season before being moved near the deadline.

If Choi plays in a regular season game he will be the fifth Korean in Pittsburgh Pirates history: Chan-ho Park in 2010, Jung-ho Kang from 2015 through 2019, Hoy Park in 2021-2022, and Ji-hwan Bae in 2022, though the Pirates have had several other Korean prospects and players in their system over the decades.

Choi, Jung-ho Kang, and Ji-hwan Bae in 2019, from Bae's Instagram.

Matsuri: Autumn Night Market, November 19 at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Carnegie Mellon University Japanese Student Association will present its annual Matsuri on November 19, with a theme of Autumn Night Market.

Every year, CMU JSA holds a festival called "Matsuri" to celebrate Japanese culture through food, games, and performances. This year's theme is 夜の屋台 (Yoru no Yatai), or Autumn Night Market, and will revolve around the flavors and colors surrounding autumn.

This year's features

• An even greater selection of fresh, handmade Japanese street food items
• Some of our most popular game booths from last year
• Stamp rally with the opportunity to win gift cards
• Live performances by our very own CMU JSA members

It runs from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at University Center Connan (map). The event is free, but food and other events require tickets, which can be purchased at the door or online in advance.

Miyazaki Week coming to Row House Cinema in December.

The Row House Cinema will present Miyazaki Week from December 2 through 11. The lineup consists of 2004's Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城), 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Japanese: 風の谷のナウシカ), 1989's Kiki's Delivery Service (Japanese: 魔女の宅急便), and 1988's My Neighbor Totoro (Japanese: となりのトトロ), as well as a one-night-only showing of 1992's Porco Rosso (Japanese: 紅の豚). Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Traditional Japanese Puppetry in Dialogue with Contemporary Puppet Theater, November 10 at Pitt.

via tomleeprojects.com 
The Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh will host puppeteer Tom Lee and his lecture "Traditional Japanese Puppetry in Dialogue with Contemporary Puppet Theater" on November 10.

Join us for this talk with director, designer, and puppet artist Tom Lee. Mr. Lee is the creator of the multimedia puppet piece "Akutagawa," which he will be directing in Pittsburgh this February. During this talk, he will discuss this piece and his process to puppetry as an art form. For questions about the event, please contact Elizabeth Oyler (eaoyler@pitt.edu). This talk is sponsored by the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature and with support from the Japan Iron and Steel Federation Endowments of the University of Pittsburgh and the Asian Studies Center of the University Center for International Studies.

The talk starts at 11:00 am in 135 Chevron Hall (map).

Asian-made short film festival at CMU, November 9.

Carnegie Mellon University will host an Asian-made short film festival on November 9. Films include:

FIRST TIMERS by Jee Hoon Seo
An advanced surfer encounters a beginner surfer struggling on his first session and is reminded of his own beginnings.

DE CLOSIN NIGHT by Shicong Zhu & Ella Rouwen Chen
A Chinese theater student tries to get rid of her accent in order to land a college performance. But as she tries harder, the line between the skill set. and her self-identity gets blurred.

WALINONG SARI by Eugene Foo & Honey Ahmad
A warrior princess of Inderapura has to choose between a kingdom that comes with a strategic marriage or, to follow her heart for a life of adventure with a man who truly understands her.

OINK by Milky Tran
A story about unconditional admiration and how mothers can unconsciously pass on their own unhealthy habits and insecurities to their daughters.

The evening also includes a keynote address by filmmaker and Pittsburgh native Milky Tran, and the first 50 people to arrive get free Boba. It will be held at cConomy Auditorium, Jared L. Cohon University Center (map). Registration can be made online. Presented in collaboration with CMU International Film Festival, aKDPhi, Project Smile, Screenshot Asia, UPitt Asian Studies Center, and Big Straw Magazine.

Japanese short film Veils (ベール) named Reel Q Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival Best Short Film.

The 2021 Japanese short film Veils (ベール) was selected yesterday as an audience award winner at the 2022 Reel Q Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival for Best Short Film.

Ayumi Tani, an owner of a small bookstore, and Sayaka Murakami, a call center worker, are a lesbian couple living together. While they feel somewhat stifled by the fact that they are part of the LGBTQ community, they are looking forward to having a wedding-style photo shoot to celebrate their five-year anniversary. Sayaka finds a site for searching photo salons advertising “LGBTQ available" and enthusiastically makes an inquiry, but one photo salon’s disappointing response angers them. Ayumi decides to go confront the photo salon in person, even though Sayaka tries to stop her. Will Ayumi's words reach Ms. Oshima, an experienced staff of the salon? Will there be a place where Ayumi and Sayaka can enjoy their own slice of happiness.

2022 Japanese animated movie One Piece Film: Red remains in Pittsburgh through November 16.

The 2022 Japanese animated movie One Piece Film: Red, which opened in Pittsburgh on November 3, will remain here through at least November 16.

One of the most iconic anime and manga series of all time is about to get even bigger with the upcoming arrival of the big screen adventure, One Piece Film: Red. One Piece Film: Red centers around Uta, the most beloved singer in the world who is renowned for concealing her own identity. Now, for the first time ever, Uta will reveal herself to the world at a live concert.

It plays locally at many local theaters throgh the 10th, including: the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson; the AMC theaters in Mt. Lebanon, South Hills, and Waterfront; and the Pittsburgh Mills Cinema. From the 11th it will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront. Tickets are available online, though please note some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Slam Poetry with Asia Samson, November 15 at Pitt-Johnstown.

The University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Program Board will present Slam Poetry with Asia Samson on November 15.

Since 2009, The Asia Project has toured over 2000 colleges with an acoustic music poetry act that has amazed audiences all over the country. On the microphone is Asia Samson: writer, poet and part-time ninja. He has been seen on HBO Def Poetry Jam and has shared the stage with such artists as Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, DMX, Mos Def, Dead Prez and KRS-One. Accompanying him on the guitar is his brother-in-law Jollan who uses music to create an atmosphere that brings poetry to emotional levels you would never expect. They have been featured on HBO Def Poetry, Button Poetry, TEDx, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, SoFar Sounds, Story Conference, and Entrepreneur’s Organization. They have worked with companies such as the US Military, Nokia, Disney, To Write Love On Her Arms and AEvolve. They have broken college-booking records for the most booked poetry act in the college market garnering them the awards of APCA College Performer of the Year and thrice APCA Spoken Word Artist of the Year.

The event start at 8:00 pm in the Student Union at UPJ, and registration is required.

Nakashima: A Bridge between East and West, November 12 at Pitt.

via nakashimawoodworkers.com

The Japanese Nationality Room Committee at the University of Pittsburgh will host Mira Nakashima and "Nakashima: A Bridge between East and West" on November 12.

Mira Nakashima is the daughter of the acclaimed architect, furniture designer, and craftsman George Nakashima. She will speak about her father's legacy and how his cultural ties to Japan affected his method of design in both furniture and architecture.

Mira Nakashima President and Creative Director of George Nakashima Woodworkers, who produce one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, made to order furniture in their workshop in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

The event runs from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in 324 Cathedral of Learning. It is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required.

Sagisaka Duo, Cornelius Boots, The Jakarta Method at Vestige Concept Gallery in Lawrenceville, November 5; traditional Japanese music, "bass shakuhachi," and Indonesian rock.

Sagisaka Duo, Cornelius Boots, and The Jakarta Method will perform at the Vestige Concept Gallery in Lawrenceville tonight, November 5.

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 5th at 7:30 PM for an evening of music by Sagisaka Duo (traditional Japanese music), Cornelius Boots (bass shakuhachi, original compositions) and Risky Sasono’s “The Jakarta Method!” We’re asking for $15 suggested donation at the door to be split amongst the performers.

The event starts at 7:30 pm. The Vestige Concept Gallery is located at 5417 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).