Shadyside's Nakwon Garden aims to reopen later this month.

Nakwon Garden, a Korean restaurant in Shadyside, plans to open later this month, according to ownership. Handwritten "Open Soon" signage went up on its door in August, and a fresh coat of paint went up today. The restaurant closed on January 1 and hinted at reopening in the future, though the official website's URL has expired and both Google and Yelp marked the restaurant as "permanently closed." Nakwon Garden opened in 2014 and was one of the few places where Korean BBQ was available in Pittsburgh, though a few new establishments are coming soon to change that.  Nakwon Garden is located at 5504 Centre Ave. (map).

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar opening in Pittsburgh on September 17.

After nearly a year of anticipation, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar announced today on social media that it will open its Pittsburgh location on September 17.

 It’s Official  We are thrilled to announce that Kura Sushi will be opening in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at SouthSide Works on SUNDAY, 9/17 at 12:00 PM! We can’t wait for you to experience our authentic Japanese food delights, revolving sushi bar, express belt for made-to-order requests, Bikkura Pon prizes, KuraBots and so much more! 

 3 DAY OPENING SPECIAL:

The first 100 dine-in guests on 9/17, 9/18 and 9/19 will receive a DC™ x Kura Sushi Tote Backpack! 

 SPECIAL OPENING HOURS:

9/17 - 9/19 from 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM

 We will be open with regular hours beginning Wednesday, 9/20!

 415 Cinema Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

 SUN: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM

MON – THU: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM

FRI: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

SAT: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Kpop Drop-in Class: Loona, "Paint The Town" at Yanlai Dance Academy, September 16.

Yanlai Dance Academy's next Kpop Dropin Class will do Loona's "Paint The Town" on September 16.

Our Kpop dance class has decided on LOONA's 🟥 Paint The Town 🟥 for their first Kpop cover this year. Drop-in for $15 to join us for our first class or register for the semester.

Our Kpop class meets regularly on Saturdays from 5:30-7:00pm. Learning the full dance to LOONA's Paint The Town, dancers learn unique skills while growing and developing together as a team. Sound like something you want to be a part of? You can still register for this semester!

The cost is $15 for a drop-in and it is recommended for ages 10 and up.  It runs from 5:45 to 7:00 pm at Yanlai Dance Academy at 2260 Babcock Blvd. in the North Hills (map).

"Japanese Action Comic Punk" band Peelander-Z in Pittsburgh, September 25.

"Japanese Action Comic Punk" band Peelander-Z will return to Pittsburgh on September 25.

PEELANDER-Z, the Japanese Action Comic Punk Band based in NYC, was originally formed in 1998 by Peelander-Yellow, Peelander-Red, and Peelander-Blue, after meeting in New York City (although they’ll tell you they’re all from the Z area on the planet Peelander). Peelander-Green was welcomed in July 2008 after Blue left the band.

Peelander–Z has appeared at major music festivals including Bonnaroo and the Vans Warped Tour and has also been featured on TV programs such as VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and Comedy Central’s “Upright Citizens Brigade” among others. The band has also been covered by SPIN, Rolling Stone, Village Voice, NPR and The Onion among many others.

At its live shows, Peelander–Z guarantees intense audience participation and a chance to exercise. You’ll see the band in colorful costumes reminiscent of Japanese anime, though they describe their outfits as their skin. You’ll also see The Red Squid, human bowling and all around insanity. A Peelander–Z performance is a rare occasion for the entire family to rock out and have a great time.

The 21+ show is at Club Cafe on the South Side (map) from 8:00 pm and tickets are available online.

Pitt's Asian Studies Center hiring Program Assistant for Japan Studies programming.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center is hiring a Program Assistant.

Provides daily support in the execution of an assigned program, section, or special interest group and implements procedures, processes, services, and systems to support program workflow. Evaluates and monitors projects, coordinates with internal and external stakeholders, and advises staff on program policies. Creates program communications, coordinates data and manages program databases, and assists in developing program evaluations.

The Asian Studies Center is seeking a Program Assistant to provide administrative and programmatic support for developing community engagement programming in the field of Japan Studies. The Program Assistant will promote Japan Studies across a broad range of disciplines and languages, in engagement activities coordinated with the Asian Studies Center, other units of the University, K-16 teachers and students, local internationally engaged organizations, other major universities, community colleges and Title III/Title V- eligible institutions. The Program Assistant will work with faculty, staff, students, K-16 educators, pre-service and in-service teachers to develop outreach materials about Japan Studies. Primary duties include: 1. Cultivate connections with local community groups. 2. Support Japan Studies Faculty activities. 3. Organize and implement events and workshops that support dialog and networking to foster a deeper understanding of Japan. 4. Assist with all aspects of programming including registration, video conferencing, technical troubleshooting, and recording of online events. The Program Assistant will manage the scheduling, logistics, publicity, and information for a range of Japan Studies activities. The Program Assistant may also be asked to assist the Asian Studies Center with other events and programs as need.

2023 Japanese animated movie Blue Giant in Pittsburgh, October 8 and 9.

The 2023 Japanese animated movie Blue Giant will play in Pittsburgh on October 8 and 9. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Dai Miyamoto's life is turned upside down the day he discovers jazz. A former high school basketball player, Dai picks up a saxophone and begins practicing day and night, determined to become one of the greatest of all time. He leaves his sleepy hometown for the bustling nightclubs of Tokyo, but soon finds the life of a professional musician is not for the faint of heart. His passion eventually wins over the cocky but talented pianist Yukinori, and after Dai convinces his friend Shunji to learn the drums, they launch a new jazz trio whose rough sound contains a raw energy that quickly wins attention from local audiences. But what does it take to truly be great?

From director Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100) and based on the award-winning manga, Blue Giant is a moving ode to the power of music and the artist, featuring electric performances and a stunning jazz soundtrack.

It will play locally, in Japanese with English subtitles, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from October 14.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from October 14. The beginner classes run from 12:45 to 1:30 pm in Classroom A of the Oakland (Main) branch; a summary:

In this beginner-level class, we will use the textbook published by the Korean government for foreigners who learn Korean as a secondary language.

To get the most out of the class, it is recommended that you have a basic understanding of how to read and write Korean characters, known as 'Hangul'. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to expand your vocabulary and gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively organize sentence structures.

The Intermediate classes start at 12:00 pm, and the Advanced class runs from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm:

In our advanced-level Korean class, we will delve into the official textbook sanctioned by the Korean government for non-native Korean learners. Prior to enrolling, we expect you to possess a foundational grasp of conversational Korean. Throughout this course, we will explore intricate aspects of Korean grammar and expand your vocabulary, enabling you to engage in more sophisticated oral and written communication based on the topics covered in each lesson.

Registration is required to participate and can be completed at the links above. The classes run six Saturdays in October and November: 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18. The Oakland branch of the Carneige Library of Pittsburgh is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by numerous city bus lines.

IU Concert: The Golden Hour in Pittsburgh, September 28 and 30.

The acclaimed concert film IU Concert: The Golden Hour will play in Pittsburgh on September 28 and 30.

Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the artist’s debut, IU CONCERT : The Golden Hour comes to the big screen in this special Cinematic Cut. Experience IU’s first ever global cinema release, as the first Korean female singer to perform at the iconic Olympic Main Stadium in Seoul, the largest stadium in South Korea and the dream venue for music artists. Starting with a thrilling acap lla opening, the setlist is filled with beloved songs from across IU’s career. From the floating strawberry moon balloon, to fireworks and a stunning drone show, the enchanting stage production is a must-see in cinemas. Embrace the happiness of the unforgettable 'Golden Hour' through IU’s legendary performances and a fully-charged live show. In September 2023, join Uaena all over the world to enjoy this heartwarming experience together in cinemas!

Wikipedia also has a lengthy page on it. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Eric Nam performing in Pittsburgh, October 6.

Korean-American singer Eric Nam will perform in Pittsburgh on October 6, as part of his "House on the Hill" tour.

Eric Nam is a multifaceted entertainer, singer, songwriter, and TV personality fluent in English, Korean, Spanish, and conversational in Mandarin. Named GQ Korea’s Man of the Year, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Eric is a household name and one of the most extensively touring and best-selling artists out of Korea. He is currently headlining a sold-out world tour playing 59 headline shows across 54 cities.

Eric released his first album as an independent artist, titled “There And Back Again”, in January 2022, which debuted at #3 and #7 on the US and UK Spotify Charts and peaked at the #22 spot for albums sold on Billboard.

In addition to music, Eric hosts the #1 K-Pop podcast, “Daebak Show”, which earned Apple Podcasts’ Best Listens of 2019.

He last performed in Pittsburgh in February 2022. This time he's at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks (map) at 7:00 pm, and tickets are available onilne.

Mongolian folk-fusion band Tuvergen in Pittsburgh, September 21.

Tuvergen, a Chicago-based trio performing Mongolian folk-fusion, will perform in Pittsburgh on September 21.

An emerging act at world music festivals across the U.S., Tuvergen Band (“galloping” in Mongolian) is a Chicago-based folk-fusion trio founded by Tamir Hargana (lead vocals, folk lutes, morin khuur), Naizal Hargana (morin khuur, vocals), and Brent Roman (percussion, didgeridoo, vocals) in 2020. Hailing from Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, Tamir and Naizal bring some of the country’s most distinctive sounds to Tuvergen Band, including the cello-like horsehead fiddle (morin khuur), various folk lutes (the Tuvan doshpuluur and West Mongolian tovshuur), and khoomii throat singing. An ethnomusicologist and Asian percussion specialist, Roman augments these sounds with a custom hybrid drum kit of twenty global percussion instruments and didgeridoo. The trio use this rich instrumental palette to perform what they call “modern nomadic music,” incorporating bluegrass, blues, rock, and more into its repertoire of Mongolian and Tuvan folk songs and originals.

Tuvergen will perform at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh in Shadyside (map) from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.