Dear Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,

As a professor of Japanese studies currently conducting research in Japan, I closely followed the preparations for your statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II (see "Requesting a WWII apology for the long forgotten: the Japanese people," Hotline to Nagatacho, Aug. 12). Call it "professorial habit," but I couldn't help asking myself what grade I would have given you had you made your presentation in one of my classes.

The answer, I regret to say, is C-, hovering very near a failing D+. Why?