Oxford and Cambridge are the two best-known universities in the U.K., sometimes referred to as one single institution: “Oxbridge.” A great rivalry exists between them, a bit like Waseda and Keio in Japan. They compete in everything from intellectual pursuits to sport and even beer drinking.

And then there is the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, which has been running almost every year since 1829. Top rowers from each university get up early every morning for months, sometimes in the freezing cold, to train hard to win a precious place on the team ― a “place in the boat,” as we say.

Then the lucky eight rowers from each side come together every year in springtime to battle it out on the River Thames in London, racing from Putney to Mortlake in front of cheering crowds lined up on the banks of the river. The distance is just over 4 miles (6.43 kilometers) and takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Like many festivals in the U.K., it is an excuse to meet up with friends and to drink. Most people ― even Oxbridge students ― don’t worry too much about the result. The winners simply get “bragging rights” for a year, whichmeans that they can boast about their achievement and say rude things about the opposition.

This is especially true if one of the boats sinks into the river, which it occasionally does!

■コーヒーを入れる

ジョン、私にコーヒーを一杯いれてもらえないかしら？

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■コーヒーにミルクを入れる

私はいつもコーヒーにミルクをいれる

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■紅茶に砂糖を入れてかき混ぜる

マーガレットは紅茶に砂糖を入れてかき混ぜた

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■自由に取って食べる

このクッキーはおいしいですよ。どうぞつまんで下さい

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A group of lawmakers is planning to host an international conference in Tokyo in late November to discuss ways to build peace in Afghanistan, sources said.

The organizers, from a range of parties , are eager to demonstrate Japan’s continued support for Afghanistan by making diplomatic efforts to establish peace in the war-torn country, the sources said.

The international conference will be jointly sponsored by the Japanese committees for the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and for the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP).

Martti Ahtisaari, a former Finnish president who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his mediation efforts in conflicts around the world, is scheduled to serve as chairman of the conference.

The organizers also intend to discuss how to deal with terrorism and religion in Afghanistan, where the U.S.-led war against terrorism has degenerated into a quagmire .

The country has been beset with terror attacks by Muslim radicals despite the dispatch of additional forces by the United States.

The organizers plan to invite representatives from the Afghan government, the United Nations, Pakistan, whose border areas have become strongholds for Muslim terrorist groups, and Saudi Arabia, which has been engaged in mediation activities in the Afghan civil war.

International religious leaders are also expected to take part, based on recommendations by the WCRP.

The organizers are considering pursuing dialogue with moderate factions within the Taliban, the fundamentalist religious and political movement that governed the country from 1996 to 2001.

They have placed high expectations on Ahtisaari, who led a comprehensive peace process in 2005 to resolve a conflict in Aceh in Muslim-dominated Indonesia.

(The Asahi Shimbun)