2023 Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist (悪は存在しない) returns to Pittsburgh, June 14 - June 27.

The 2023 Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist (悪は存在しない) returns to Pittsburgh from June 14 through June 27.

The latest film from the director of the Academy Award-winning film DRIVE MY CAR, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s EVIL DOES NOT EXIST follows Takumi and his daughter Hana living in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a glamping site near Takumi’s house offering city residents a comfortable “escape” to nature. When two company representatives from Tokyo arrive in the village to hold a meeting, it becomes clear that the project will have a negative impact on the local water supply, causing unrest. The agency’s mismatched intentions endanger both the ecological balance of the plateau and their way of life, with an aftermath that affects Takumi’s life deeply.

The film had a run in Pittsburgh in May. It next plays in Japanese with English subtitles at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online.

2024 Japanese animated film Haikyu! The Dumpster Battle (劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦) continues in Pittsburgh through June 12.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Haikyu! The Dumpster Battle (劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦) will continue in Pittsburgh through June 12.

Shoyo Hinata joins Karasuno High's volleyball club to be like his idol, a former Karasuno player known as the "Little Giant." But, Hinata soon finds that he must team up with his middle school nemesis, Tobio Kageyama. Their clashing styles turn into a surprising weapon, but can they beat their rival Nekoma High in the highly anticipated "Dumpster Battle," the long awaited ultimate showdown between two opposing underdog teams?

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Taiwanese bubble tea chain Gong cha coming soon to Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh's first Gong cha is coming soon to the South Side. It will be located at 1303 E. Carson St. (map). Its official site tells the story of the chain, which has locations around the world:

Founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Gong Cha, which translates to “tribute tea for the emperor” opened its doors to the bubble tea market.

Gong cha’s success in Taiwan launched our stores all over the globe with customers loving our premium quality tea, products & services:

• Fresh Tea brewed throughout the day
• Pearls (bubbles) freshly prepared to perfection continuously through the day
• Tea sourced from the finest tea estates in Taiwan
• Strict quality controls for all ingredients

Gong cha is known across the world for its signature Milk Foam. Its creamy, sweet and savory flavor balance and whipped texture make it the perfect complement to our freshly brewed teas. Our delicious milk foam is hand-crafted for each customer and made from the freshest milk and highest quality, signature ingredients.

There are obviously dozens upon dozens of bubble tea places around Pittsburgh, but recently these have started to include national and international chains like Tsaocaa, Wushiland, Tiger Sugar, Chatime (since rebranded), and now Gong cha.

Grapow Asian Street Food coming soon to Pittsburgh.

Signage went up recently for Grapow Asian Street Food, a new restaurant coming soon to Pittsburgh. It will be located at 411 S. Craig St. in Oakland (map), most recently and for a very brief time the home of Oakland's second Chick'n location, for which the painted chickens on the facade are a temporary reminder. Grapow is the name of a Thai street food dish, but details about the menu are not yet available.

Brief PennsylvAsia hiatus in May.

I will be taking some time off from this month to work on various other things, so I am afraid I may miss breaking news on any new Korean bakeries, or new Asian groceries, or matcha ice cream shops, or Chinese blockbuster movies. There are a number of things to keep an eye on for May, however, until I can update again:

• University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center presents Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History Book Discussion, May 2 and 15 at two Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches.
• 2023 Japanese + Wim Wenders film Perfect Days at Row House Lawrenceville, May 3 - May 9
• Advocacy through MUSIC - An introduction to those Taiwanese pioneers, May 4 in Squirrel Hill
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM), May 7 and 8
• Imprinting in Their Time: Japanese Printmakers, 1912–2022 at Carnegie Museum of Art through May 12
• 2023 Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist ( 悪は存在しない) in Pittsburgh, from May 16
• Howl's Moving Castle at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 17
• Teen Time sessions inspired by the work of Jasmine Cho, May 2 - 21 at various Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches
• Korea's Brush Theater returns to Pittsburgh's Children's Theater Festival with "Poli POP!" May 17 - 19.
• Asian Festival Night, May 19 at Carnegie Mellon University.
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ)  May 19 and 21 and Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ) May 20 and 22 in many local theaters, part of Ghibli Fest 2024.
• Impression of Taiwan: TenDrum Art Percussion 十鼓擊樂團, May 22, part of Pittsburgh Taiwan Night.
• 2023 movie Sight, based on the life of eye surgeon Dr. Ming Wang, from May 23.
• Korean pop rock band Lucy (루시), May 30

2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) May 8.

The 2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White), which opened in Pittsburgh on April 18, will stay here through at least May 8.

He's a spy. She's an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid's attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic South Hills, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles and others are dubbed in English.

Franchisee aims to open five Paris Baguette cafes in Pittsburgh.

While searching for updates on the two Paris Baguette cafes in progress in Pittsburgh I found an online interview with Ali Shah, the franchisee behind these two restaurants. The chain's official publicity outlet delves a little into his background and motivations:

Asif Shah, a long-time entrepreneur who has owned both gas stations and restaurants for nearly 20 years, is bringing Paris Baguette, the global bakery café franchise, to Pittsburgh with a five-unit agreement. The first café is projected to open at 8013 McKnight Road in May with a second at 5514 Walnut Street following later this year.

Partnering with his daughter, Shah says he looks forward to bringing the Paris Baguette experience to a neighborhood that has nothing like it. Compared to the drive-thru and pick-up models that run rampant today, Paris Baguette provides “a more beautiful experience,” he said.

. . .

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Shah: In Pittsburgh, we have Starbucks and Panera. They are okay, but it’s totally different at Paris Baguette. Paris Baguette wants to make sure guests come in and take a look at what we have. We want the guest to walk into the café and stay a while. I really like that model.

Walking in, looking around and picking your own pastries from a buffet-style display, then being able to sit down and relax to enjoy your food… It’s a more beautiful experience.

Paris Baguette is a chain of bakeries ubiquitous throughout South Korea that has over 150 locations across the United States. The menu boasts a wide variety of cakes, baked goods, sandwiches, juices, and coffees, in addition its eponymous French bread.

2024 Japanese animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM) in Pittsburgh, May 7 and 8.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM) will play in Pittsburgh on may 7 and 8.

C.E. (Cosmic Era). An era in which there are human beings called Coordinators, born with superior physical and mental abilities thanks to genetic modification, and humans called Naturals who are born naturally. The “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” series depicts the conflict between Coordinators and Naturals within this C.E. setting. “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” (2002~2003), set in the year C.E.71~, and “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY” (2004~2005), which depicted C.E.73~, were broadcast as TV animation. The story then continued in various other media. Now “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM,” depicting an entirely new story set in C.E.75, will make its long-awaited theatrical debut featuring a special introduction from the director and voice cast.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: the May 7 shows play in Japanese with English subtitles, while the May 8 shows are dubbed in English.

2004 Hayao Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 17.

The 2004 Hayao Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle will play at Rangos Giant Cinema at the Carnegie Science Center on May 17.

In Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a “breathtaking fantasy world” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor, and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki’s artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling, and richly detailed animation.

The show starts at 7:00 pm and tickets will be available for purchase four weeks before the event. The Rangos Giant Cinema, says its website,

is the most technologically advanced motion picture experience in Pittsburgh, boasting a 71-by-39-foot Certified Giant Screen, crystal-clear images, brilliant colors, and rich surround sound. It features two industry-leading Christie® laser-illuminated 4K laser digital projectors and a premium Dolby Atmos® surround sound system with 49 speakers.

The cinema and the Carnegie Science Center are located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Korea's Brush Theater returns to Pittsburgh's Children's Theater Festival with "Poli POP!" May 17 - 19.

South Korea's Brush Theater will once again appear as part of Pittsburgh's Children's Theater Festival with "Poli POP!" from May 17 - 19.

Poli and Pola don't want to go to sleep. The siblings start off playing with toys in their bedroom, competing against each other to be the leader of the room, but then their imagination takes them on a surreal dreamlike journey full of surprise and joy. BRUSH Theatre uses incredible technology and special effects to transform the set from an empty room to far away islands, roaring seas, the Egyptian desert, busy cities, dance parties, and more! But the duo don’t know there’s something else lurking in the shadows… a ferocious alien monster! What will they do?

A wonderful follow up to BRUSH's recent Doodle POP, this colorful and playful new theater production uses live musicians who perform the accompanying score and sound effects, stunning interactive animations and painted projection mapping, and an abundance of theatrical imagination.

The duo performed "Doodle POP" here in 2022. The performances are at the Pittsburgh Playhouse on the Point Park University campus downtown (map), and tickets are available online.