A PUB has faced calls to remove a Japanese flag on its frontage after a local Unionist club voiced its “disgust” over its presence.
The club appealed to the local Wishaw community to write to North Lanarkshire Council in a bid to force the Cross Keys Inn to remove the flag.
The group claimed that the sight of the flag was an “insult to the people who were killed, tortured ... in the 2nd World War”.
What a strange bunch they are btw pic.twitter.com/xEENr7jGcn
— マシュー (@Matthew210387) February 9, 2022
In a statement, the pub said: "Due to the screenshots circulating on social media we feel we should make a comment to alleviate any concerns around the reasoning for flying the Japanese national flag.
"After the well-publicised racist abuse suffered by a high-profile Japanese sporting figure not so long ago, we tried to show a welcome to some new arrivals to Scotland.
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"Unfortunately, some people seem reluctant to move on from events that happened circa 80 years ago and are letting their prejudice cloud their judgement.
"To suggest that the Japanese flag is an act of anti-British sentiment is nothing short of ludicrous.
"The question needs to be asked, would this be an issue if a Japanese flag was outside a Japanese restaurant or is it solely because of the venue it is outside?
"For the reasons stated above we will not be removing it through fear or intimidation from pressure groups who have a clear agenda and will remove it at our leisure when we see fit."
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A spokesman for the council said: "We received a number of complaints and informed the licence holder about them.
"The licence holder has advised that the flag is being removed.”
According to reports in the Mail Online, the pub has relented and taken the flag down.
Since this report, the pub's only comment has been "Happy Friday" which was tweeted in Japanese.
When asked for comment, North Lanarkshire Council failed to specify whether they requested that the pub take the flag down or whether they merely informed the pub of the complaints.
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