Japanese metal band HANABIE。 returns to Pittsburgh, March 12.

Japanese metal band HANABIE。will return to Pittsburgh on March 12, part of their US tour with Kim Dracula. Their Reddit fanpage provides an introduction:

Loud rock band HANABIE。formed at their school light music club in June 2015. Centering in Kichijōji, Tokyo, they started performing live around areas such as Shinjuku and Tachikawa.

The sound of Hanabie features the sound mixture of metalcore, hardcore, Hip-Hop, and J-POP. Their 1st album, "Girls Manifest" was released in 2020. With this album, they have established their own genre "HARAJUKUCORE"

Their live performances have a speed and power that exceeds expectations and captivates their audience. Yukina's powerful screaming/growling vocals never leave anyone without being amazed, along with this excellent melodic lines given by the clean voice of Matsuri, this is a complete basis for an amazing metalcore band but as for them it isn't enough they add different layers of voices between rap lines. If vocally they are great, in the instrumental part they're not left behind, aggressive, heavy, and dynamic. Certainly to define this band you need at least two words: dynamic and powerful.

The band played Preserving Underground in New Kensington in September 2023 and the Roxian Theatre in September 2024.

The all ages show at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks (map) begins at 6:30 pm, and tickets are available online.

Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble concert rescheduled to November 14.

Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble will return to Pittsburgh later this fall, as their concert has been rescheduled to November 14 from its original March 7 date.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. Masters of traditional Tuvan instruments as well as the art of throat singing, Alash are deeply committed to traditional Tuvan music and culture. At the same time, they are fans of western music. Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, the musicians subtly infuse their songs with western elements, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new, yet true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

The group will perform at the First Unitarian Church in Shadyside (map) from 7:30 pm, and ticket information will follow.

2025 Philippine movie My Love Will Make You Disappear in Pittsburgh, from March 27.

The 2025 Philippine movie My Love Will Make You Disappear will play in Pittsburgh from March 27.

A woman who believes she's cursed meets a troubled landlord while fighting community displacement. As they grow closer, her fear that all her lovers disappear threatens their connection.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson through April 3, and tickets are available online.

Taiwanese-style chicken restaurant Kung Fu Chicken opens second location, this time in Shadyside.

Kung Fu Chicken, which operates a location in the Novo Asian Food Hall in the Strip District Terminal, opened another location in Shadyside on February 28. It is located at 709 Bellefonte St. in Shadyside (map), the former spot of I Tea Cafe, one of the first bubble tea places in Pittsburgh when it opened in 2013. From its signage:

At Kung Fu Chicken, we bring the authentic taste of Taiwan's bustling street food culture right to your table. Inspired by the vibrant night markets of Taipei, our specialty is the iconic Taiwanese chicken cutlet, known for its mouthwatering flavor, tender texture, and signature crispy coating. Our journey began with a passion for sharing the joy of traditional Taiwanese street food. Each cutlet is carefully crafted using fresh, high-quality ingredients and marinated in a blend of soy sauce, garlic, and secret spices, staying true to time-honored recipes. We pride ourselves on delivering a perfect balance of flavors---crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with just the right amount of seasoning.

A Taiwanese chicken cutlet, also known as "ji pai" (雞排), is a popular street food in Taiwan. It's a large, boneless chicken breast that is pounded thin to tenderize it, then marinated in a mixture of soysauce, garlic, and spices to infuse it with rich flavor. The chicken is made from sweet potato starch, which gives it a distinctive crispy texture when deep-fried. The cutlet is typically seasoned with a special blend of spices, including white pepper, Chinese five-spice and chili powder for a mildly spicy kick. It's usually served piping hot, sometimes with a sprinkle of additional seasoning on top, and enjoyed as a snack or meal-on-the-go.

Grand opening of Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings in Pittsburgh, March 5.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, a popular New York-based chain specializing in dumplings and southern Chinese cuisine, will hold its Grand Opening on March 5. It held a friends-and-family opening on February 23 and a soft opening on February 24, and is located at 2773 Sidney St. in the Southside Works at the former Sake spot (map).

The Pittsburgh location for Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings was first announced for in September 2023, with an opening initially planned for Spring 2024. 

The restaurant's official site describes its offerings:

Soup dumplings, or xiao long bao (which literally means "little steamer-basket buns" in Mandarin Chinese), originated hundreds of years ago in Nan Xiang, a canal town near Shanghai. Today, soup dumplings are a global icon of Southern Chinese comfort food.

For New Yorkers, the introduction to the best soup dumplings in the state began in 2006 with a family recipe and a small shop in Flushing. Nearly twenty years later, Nan Xiang is synonymous with authentic Southern Chinese cuisine.

. . .

Recognized as having “the best soup dumplings in town” and with a perennial feature in the Michelin Guide, we pride ourselves on being a haven for those who value the warmth of home-cooked meals, family dinners, and community. What does the taste of home mean to you? We hope you’ll find the answer here at Nan Xiang.

Tickets still available for The Way of Tea 茶道: Recital and Ceremony, March 10 at The Art Room.

Pittsburgh Opera will present "The Way of Tea 茶道: Recital and Ceremony" on March 10, part of a series of events surrounding its production of Madama Butterfly starting on March 22.

Ceremony

The tea ceremony, or Chado (The Way of Tea), is a traditional Japanese art involving the ritualistic preparation of tea. Influenced by the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, the core teaching of chado is to attain a spiritual state of selflessness and peacefulness through making and sharing tea. Join us to learn the history and philosophy of Japanese tea ceremony while tasting Japanese tea and sweets.

Yuko Eguchi is a native of Tokyo, Japan and holds a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh. She received her tea master title and name, Soyu, in 2009 and the associate professor of tea title in 2013, certified by the head master of the Urasenke school. Yuko has performed and lectured on Japanese traditional arts at various higher institutions.

Recital

Japanese mezzo-soprano, Nozomi Kato, is in demand at leading opera houses in Italy, Spain, Japan and beyond. In particular, she has made a name for herself internationally as Suzuki in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, which she will perform at Pittsburgh Opera in March of 2025 reprising her role in a production originated at Cincinnati Opera (dir: Matthew Ozawa).

The evening of events starts at 6:00 pm, and tickets are available online. The Art Room is located at 2010 Smallman St. in the Strip District (map).

"Asian American Identity and Place" (ANTH 1737) offered at Pitt this summer, from May 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Anthropology is offering a four-week "Asian American Identity and Place" course during Summer 2025.

To be Asian American means different things to different individuals and groups and certainly from one part of the country to another. Being someone who is of Asian American background does not necessarily result in expertise. According to the Pew Research Center, only one of every four Asian Americans are well informed about Asian American issues in the U.S. with half of those who feel extremely in the know having learned about the topics through college.

In this first-time experiential class students will interactively explore Asian American identity and its relationship to place. Help us shape what directions and focus the course will take in future iterations as we dive into the topic together. It’s opportunity to self-explore one’s relationship to the topic while doing so with others within the class. Take advantage of this opportunity while you still can learn more about Asian American identity.

The course description for ANTH 1737, a Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology course led by Dr. Jessica Sun and Lynn Kawaratani this term, reads:

What does it mean to be Asian American? Does it differ socially or individually? Does it depend on place? We invite students to explore Asian American identity nationally and locally.

We will connect with organizations, speakers, and businesses in Pittsburgh and bring in a national perspective through virtual visits and lectures. Discussions will include topics related to religion, immigration, nationality, poiltics and others. This is an opportunity for students to construct their own understanding of what it means to be Asian American.

The 3-credit course will meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from May 14 through June 10. Those with questions can contact Jessica Sun at jhs39 at pitt.edu

2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), now the top-grossing animated film of all time, remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) March 5.

The 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 13, will remain here through at least March 5.

After the catastrophe, although the souls of Nezha and Aobing were saved, their bodies would soon be shattered. Taiyi Zhenren planned to use the seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies.

Ne Zha 2 recently became the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, and tickets are available online.

2025 Chinese movie Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (射雕英雄传：侠之大者) remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) March 5.

The 2025 Chinese movie Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (射雕英雄传：侠之大者), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 20, will remain here through at least March 5.

The film is adapted from Mr. Jin Yong's classic martial arts work "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". It tells the story of the world of grievances and hatred in the war-torn era of power struggle. Guo Jing (played by Xiao Zhan) left his hometown and acquired huge power of martial arts to change destiny. Although he was valued by Kung Fu Masters and who passed down the world's peerless martial arts "Nine Yin Manual" and "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms", jealousy towards him was formed from all parties where he became the target of public criticism. Guo Jing and Huang Rong (played by Zhuang Dafei) turned the tide and protected the Southern Song Dynasty border amidst the rain of arrows with the spirit of gallants.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

ASIA POP Deterritorialisation of Korean TV dramas in “Netflix Originals”: “We are living in the Squid Game world”, February 26 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Hyejung Ju and her talk "ASIA POP Deterritorialisation of Korean TV dramas in 'Netflix Originals': 'We are living in the Squid Game world'" on February 26 as part of this term's ASIA POP lecture series.

Squid Game’s phenomenal success calls attention to the local specificity of Netflix’s global expansion as it commissions original K-dramas. This practice has rich implications, both positive and negative, for Netflix’s production and distribution of Korean content. K-dramas classified as Netflix Originals have been riding its international market power to a wide range of transnational audiences, enabling national television creators to reimagine cultural spheres for both production and distribution that transgress the uneven circuit of transnational media. At the same time, the deterritorialisation of Netflix’s K-dramas raises concerns about its deep interpenetration of the Korean TV industry.

As a teacher-scholar, Dr. Ju believes that mass media lies in the multifaceted cutting-edge research field with inherent dimensional complexity as functioning as a social, economical, and cultural institution. Through teaching and mentoring students in mass communication, Dr. Ju strives to convey the body of knowledge about media and culture for individuals, society, communities, and the global society. Therefore she hopes that students can engage better in dynamic forms of media and communication practices to their day-to-day life.

It runs from 6:00 to 7:15 in 149 Cathedral of Learning.