It’s that time again bento boxers. This week saw the kickoff of two Rekuru specials, the Akira Kurosawa Tribute Month as well as our New Year’s Resolution Week so if you haven’t checked them out, do so. Between a classic film review and a hoard of new year’s resolutions, there’s plenty of good readin’ to be had. Also of note this week was the next entry in Jacob’s continuing Japanese travel guide as well as a look at Japanese music group SMAP’s NYC filmed commercials and news on the unemployment crisis in Japan. That’s it for this week, see you next Sunday. XOXO

Celebrities
Swine Flu Strikes Again. This Time SMAP.

Events & Contests
20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End giveaway
Rekuru’s New Year’s Resolutions Week

Film
When Good Dogs Go Bad: A Rekuru Review of Stray Dog

Music
Notable Moments for J-Rock in 2009: A Retrospective
SMAP’s 「Roof Top」 and 「Real」 commercials as shot in New York

New Year’s Resolutions
2010 Resolutions Real People Should Make
Jeremy’s Akira Kurosawa Resolution of 2010
My New Year’s Resolution #1: Watch More Horror, You Wuss
5 Resolutions Nintendo Should Implement This Year
My New Year’s Resolution #2: Listen To More Old School Jpop

News
The sobering results of Japan’s skyrocketing unemployment crisis
Jpop and other Japanese Entertainer’s Ameba Blogs Hacked

Randomness
The sleeping bag you can walk in

Travel
Japan Travel Guide: Nakano, Mitaka and the Ghibli Museum