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Huntington Beach : City Hall’s Japanese Flag Brings Rash of Questions

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A Japanese flag flying above City Hall Monday morning prompted a flurry of telephone calls from curious residents and municipal workers who wanted to know why.

The explanation was that the flag had flown above City Hall on Sunday during the Japanese Cultural Festival honoring Anjo, Japan, one of Huntington Beach’s two sister cities. For that reason, the maintenance crew hoisted the flag Monday, thinking it would again fly in the place of California’s banner.

Not so, they learned, and the Rising Sun quickly set.

City spokesman Bill Reed said the incident was “no big thing,” since foreign flags are often flown at City Hall. The Japanese and New Zealand flags, especially, are apt to fly in Huntington Beach, he said. (Waitemata, New Zealand, is the other sister city.)

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The Japanese flag will probably be flown for several days during the city’s Fourth of July celebration because an official delegation from Anjo will be in town for the festivities, Reed said.

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