In today's episode, we'll be diving into a recent news story from Canada. According to an article by Daily Hive on July 9, 2023, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim found himself in the spotlight after a nine-second video clip went viral. The clip shows Mayor Sim onstage at the Khatsahlano Street Party, engaging in the popular practice of shotgunning a beer.

The video, originally posted on Reddit, captures Mayor Sim alongside city councillor Mike Klassen as they participate in this beer-drinking activity. Interestingly, a third person from the crowd was invited to join them. In the clip, the trio showcases their skills, with the first man finishing his beer in four seconds, Mayor Sim in five, and Councillor Klassen taking six seconds to chug his beer.

As the crowd cheers, Mayor Sim raises his arm in celebration and crushes the can before leaving the stage. The video garnered quite a bit of attention, sparking amusing comments and observations from viewers. One Reddit user even commented on Mayor Sim's technique, noting, "Pretty good form from the mayor. Not a lot of drips coming from the can either. The man is clearly a former accountant."

Despite political differences, many individuals came to Mayor Sim's defense, recognizing the importance of personal enjoyment and leisure time. As one Reddit user stated, "You may disagree with his politics, which I do, but everyone is entitled to have fun on their time off IMO." Another user even jokingly suggested, "This is how the next mayor should be chosen."

To get a better sense of the news, you can click on the link provided in the description to watch the original clip. It's worth noting that this incident might be seen as humorous and lighthearted in Canada, but it contrasts with the perception of politicians in Japan. In Japan, politicians are typically regarded as symbols of sincerity and politeness, and such behaviour would likely face condemnation rather than amusement.

For those unfamiliar with Reddit, it is a social news website and forum where users curate and promote content through voting. It functions similarly to an online bulletin board, which we refer to as "KEIJI-BAN" in Japan. The name "Reddit" is a play on the phrase "I read it."

Lastly, let's clarify the term "shotgunning a beer." Shotgunning involves consuming a beverage, often beer, rapidly by puncturing a hole near the bottom of the can, placing one's mouth over the hole, and pulling the tab to open the top. The liquid then quickly drains, allowing for fast consumption. Personally, I have never tried this method, and it appears challenging. In Japan, we typically consume beer in a glass, following a more traditional approach.

It's fascinating to observe how the public reacted to Mayor Sim's actions, finding humour in the situation and recognizing the distinction between his private and political life. This level of understanding and acceptance is truly admirable, as in Japan, politicians are often subjected to excessive criticism, even during their personal time. 

Thank you for joining me today on "News Canada through Japanese Eyes." Stay tuned for more captivating news stories and cultural insights.

宝くじ当たったらどうする？て言われて税金いくらだろう？って一番に浮かんだらオトナになったってことだよなあ

According to Daily Hive on July 4, 2023,

Baseball fans hit a lotto home runs with million dollar jackpot wins.

Eddy Berrouard, a resident of Courtenay, British Columbia, won a significant prize in the June 17, 2023, Lotto 6/49 draw in Canada. While enjoying a coffee at home, he checked his ticket using the BCLC Lotto! App and noticed multiple zeros in the winning number. Excited by the news, he shared it with his siblings and coworkers, who were happy for him. Berrouard purchased the winning ticket at a lottery kiosk in Courtenay's Driftwood Mall. He plans to use the prize money to visit his family in Quebec, buy a car, and travel to Seattle and Colorado to watch baseball games. Additionally, he intends to revisit Hawaii, a place he loves and where he celebrated his birthday last year. Berrouard also expressed his desire to share some of his winnings with his family, ensuring they can enjoy nice holidays as well.

You can jump into the article in the description.

https://dailyhive.com/canada/lottery-winner-eddy-berrouard

Now, let's shift gears and discuss national lottery games in Canada. One of the most popular ones is Lotto 6/49, along with Lotto Max and Daily Grand. Lotto 6/49 holds a special place as it was the first nationwide Canadian lottery game to allow players to choose their own numbers when it launched on June 12, 1982.And it's interesting to compare it with the Japanese lottery, Takarakuji, specifically the game known as Loto 6. I'm curious, are there any notable differences between the two lotteries?

Let's delve into that. Firstly, the Prize Structure, Ticket Price, and Draw Frequency of both lotteries are quite similar. Both Lotto 6/49 and Loto 6 have a jackpot prize for matching all 6 numbers drawn, as well as secondary prizes for matching 5, 4, 3, or even 2 numbers. The ticket price for Lotto 6/49 is around CAD $3, while for Loto 6 in Japan, it's 200 yen. Additionally, draws for both lotteries take place twice a week.

That's interesting how the basic structure aligns between the two lotteries. The most significant difference lies in the odds of winning. In Lotto 6/49, players choose 6 numbers from a pool of 49, while in Loto 6, they choose from a pool of 43 numbers. These additional 6 numbers in Canada make a substantial impact on the odds. The chances of winning the Lotto 6/49 jackpot, matching all 6 numbers, are approximately 1 in 13,983,816. On the other hand, the odds of winning the Loto 6 jackpot in Japan are approximately 1 in 6,096,454. This means that Loto 6 in Japan is more than twice as likely to win.

Those odds certainly make a difference. It seems like Japanese Loto 6 offers a higher chance of winning the jackpot. What about the prize amounts? Are they similar too? While the specific prize amounts can vary from draw to draw based on ticket sales and the number of winners, we can compare the standard prizes. The jackpot prize for Lotto 6/49 in Canada starts at $2,500,000, while the Loto 6 jackpot in Japan starts at $1,835,600. So, in terms of the initial jackpot amount, Lotto 6/49 in Canada offers a higher prize.

So despite the higher odds of winning, Lotto 6/49 in Canada has a bigger jackpot compared to Loto 6 in Japan. It's fascinating to compare these two lotteries and see the similarities and differences.

2月11日に赤T着るか

According to CBC News on June 16, 2023,

North Bay Fire and Emergency Services has determined at this time that the professional fireworks display set for Canada Day Celebrations will be allowed to proceed.

North Bay in Canada is preparing for its Canada Day celebrations, which will feature various activities and entertainment at the North Bay Waterfront. The festivities will begin at noon with an opening ceremony, the singing of the national anthem, and the announcement of the winners of the Canada Day Poster Challenge. There will be food vendors, interactive shows, face painting, and other activities for all ages.

The day will conclude with a fireworks finale presented by Pearson Tree Services at around 10 p.m. The North Bay Fire and Emergency Services have conducted a thorough risk assessment and have decided that the professional fireworks display can proceed, contingent on weather conditions. Precautionary measures will be in place, including having emergency crews present during the fireworks.

Please note that a total fire ban is expected to be in place, including for recreational fireworks, due to the current forest fire danger rating impacting Ontario.

You can jump into the article in the description.

https://www.nugget.ca/news/fireworks-included-in-canada-day-events-line-up

Firstly, Let me introduce what Canada Day is and what it looks like.

Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day, is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the British North America Act, 1867, when the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into a single dominion within the British Empire called Canada. Originally called Dominion Day, the holiday was renamed in 1982, the same year that the Canada Act, 1982, patriated the Canadian constitution. Canada Day celebrations take place throughout the country, as well as in various locations around the world attended by Canadians living abroad. last year I attended an event which was really crowded. Everyone was wearing red in color and we could see a lot of national flags back and forth. 

Meanwhile, I was like when is our national foundation day in Japan? Honestly, the Japanese national flag is coloured the same as Canada which is consist of white and red. But I never wore Red T-shirt to celebrate the day. Ultimately, I have no idea how many people usually know or celebrate the foundation day in Japan. Do we have any customary accordingly? At least,  I am sure it is NOT common to have fireworks on the day.

Speaking of Japan, National Foundation Day, known as "Kenkoku Kinen no Hi", is a national holiday celebrated on February 11th each year. According to the article, it commemorates the mythical foundation of Japan and the establishment of its first emperor, Emperor Jimmu, according to Japanese folklore. The origin of National Foundation Day can be traced back to ancient times and the mythological accounts found in the "Nihon Shoki" (The Chronicles of Japan) and "Kojiki" (Records of Ancient Matters). It is surprising Japan is 2683 years old, whereas Canada is 156 years old, which means 2578 years older than Canada. What a long history we have.

実質私のエリアで言うとほぼインドに住んでる感じ

According to CBC News on June 16, 2023, Canada's population has surpassed 40 million people.

The federal statistics agency's "population clock" uses modelling to estimate Canada's population in real time. The counter hit the 40 million mark just before 3 p.m. ET on Friday. 

Canada's population growth rate currently stands at 2.7 per cent. That's the highest annual growth rate since 1957, when Canada was in the middle of its post-war baby boom, says Statistics Canada.

Canada's population grew by a record 1.05 million last year and about 96 percent of the rise was due to international migration, the agency said.

The specialist said Canada needs to attract newcomers to fill jobs left vacant by retiring baby boomers.

But a growing population also presents challenges, particularly with housing, he said.

Average Canadian house price rose to $716,000 in April — up by $100K since January

The average price of a Canadian resale home has increased four months in a row this year, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. The average selling price of a home in April — the month for which the most recent data is available — was $716,000.

"We are in a crunch. We haven't been building enough units across the country, especially at the affordable levels," he said.

Canada's population topped 30 million in 1997 and could reach 50 million as early as 2043 if current trends continue, Statistics Canada said.

You can jump into the article from the description.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-population-40-million-1.6878211

It's truly impressive that I, as an immigrant, get to share such a remarkable and unforgettable moment in Canada. Speaking about the ratio of migrants, which is reported to be 96 percent due to international migration, what could be the reason behind such a substantial increase?

According to Google, the rise can be attributed to Canada's embracing of multiculturalism and immigrants, and I agree with this perspective. Undoubtedly, Canada boasts one of the highest immigration rates per capita among developed nations. When considering the number of immigrants in each country, India tops the list with 118,095 immigrants, accounting for 27% of the total. Following that, China has 31,815 immigrants (7.2%), and Afghanistan, Nigeria, Philippines follow. As for Japanese immigrants, the number of permanent residents admitted to Canada in 2022 was only 885, obviously making us a minority here.

In my opinion as one of the immigrants, this news has both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, having a diverse population from all around the world enriches our immigrant experience and might be able to make living here more comfortable. However, on the other hand, as more people come, competition intensifies. Capitalism will be further stimulated. As mentioned in the article, the cost of living, including rent, will continue to rise. In the worst-case scenario, there is a higher likelihood of job loss, as it becomes easier to be replaced unless one possesses specific or highly sought-after skills. 

After all, the most we can do is strive to give our best effort every day and find ways to compete with intelligent individuals from across the globe. That’s everything we can do. That’s it. Are you becoming intrigued by the idea of living in Canada? I would love to hear your impressions and thoughts on the matter.

山火事にあっても、絶対に生き延びたいよね！

According to CBC News on June 12, 2023

The Donnie Creek wildfire in northeastern British Columbia has become the second largest in the province's history, prompting the evacuation of more properties. The Peace River Regional District issued an evacuation order for properties east of Highway 97N, while an evacuation alert was issued for 370 properties in remote areas north of Fort St. John.

 The fire, which was sparked by lightning on May 12, has grown to 4,660 square kilometers and is now just three kilometers away from the Alaska Highway. 

The B.C. Wildfire Service is working to contain the blaze, but the lack of rain in the area has allowed the fire to grow aggressively. The early start and extensive size of the wildfires in 2023 have raised concerns, with 7,097 square kilometers already burned by mid-June.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/donnie-creek-wildfire-double-metro-vancouver-1.6874033

Surprisingly, Canadian wildfires have led to poor air quality in New York City and Toronto with the fourth and fifth worst air quality globally as of Tuesday afternoon.

That news scared me because, in Japan, we seldom experience wildfires lasting over a week. If it happens in Japan, we would lose our country. 

Moreover,  Wildfires in Canada are not rare cases which usually occur frequently from May to October, mainly in the western part of the country. 

What is the main cause of the wildfires? 

Dry, hot weather also breeds more lightning. In a normal season, half of Canada's wildfires are started by lightning, but those fires account for more than 85% of wildfire destruction. 

https://scoutingmagazine.org/2016/04/survival-strategies-help-escape-forest-fire/

Here is the thing. If I come across a wildfire one day, how can we deal with it? Or can we escape from it by any chance? So I asked google how to escape from wildfire. Let me introduce some amazing answers to the question.

Imagine. Now you are hiking in the forest. Suddenly the wind picks up. Embers float your way, and … goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!

What should you do?

In general, forest fires are driven by two factors: wind and terrain. In both cases, it is critical to move upwind (that is, into the wind) when attempting to escape wildfires. You can determine general wind direction by viewing which way the smoke is moving, assuming there’s reasonable visibility. Look high up in the sky, where the smoke direction is less affected by the terrain. You should also travel downhill.

In a situation where you cannot escape the flames and cannot make it to a safe location, your best option is to locate a trench or deep gulley. Dig a hole in the side, cover the opening with a tarp or blanket, and then crawl into the hole. Alternatively, dig a trench and lie down in it with your feet facing the direction of the flames, and cover yourself with dirt. Make sure you can breathe, and wait for the fire to travel over you.

Now you realized how to escape from wildfire. Hope we won’t use this knowledge in the future but keep it in mind. I hope you guys are all safe and the fires in BC will be under control in near future.

私自身は甘いものがあまり食べられないんだけども