In Japanese schools the academic year begins in April, and because of this graduation ceremonies are held in March. During this season, female university students attending graduation ceremonies can be seen on the street wearing eye-catching hakama. However, deeply imbued with the implication of parting ways, Japanese graduation ceremonies differ from those in the west. Because of this, touching scenes of students shedding tears as they reluctantly say their farewells to friends and teachers can be seen in the ceremonial halls. Before graduating, it is customary for primary and junior high school students to leave behind an essay about their hopes for the future. Many students write about grand ambitions to become sports players or scientists. But of course, few people are able to realize such dreams. Some years ago, I bumped into a friend from junior high school who I hadn’t seen since the graduation. At that time he was known as a slick talker who loved to show off. I remembered he wrote that he wanted to be an actor in his graduation essay, so I teased him, saying, “Weren’t you able to become an actor?” Then he unexpectedly said, “Yes, I did,” and handed me his business card. There I read that he was a city councilor for a provincial city. “What’s this? You are not an actor then? But I’m surprised you are interested in politics,” I said. He said, smiling, “Actually I am acting.” Looking my puzzled face, he said, the following. “Politicians are just like actors, rather than having political ability, they need to have the ability to act.” Then he added, “In the political world, only those who can calmly lie and whose performance convinces voters, are selected.” When we parted, he laughed, saying, “With my talent for performing, I’ll be governor someday.” This year I received an email from him, stating the following: “I was defeated in the last election. It is all down to my lack of virtue. To revive by my political career I’ll start afresh and brush up on my acting skills.”