Japanese students say a 'geisha'-themed launch event of a new city nightclub has shown "clear ignorance" of the country's culture.

The University of Kent's Japan Society is the latest to wade into a row which erupted when Tokyo Tea Rooms in Canterbury hired white women dressed up as the traditional entertainers, leading to claims of cultural appropriation and a call backed by Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield to boycott the venue.

The Society says the silk kimonos worn by the 'geishas' don't look like Japanese print and feature flowers that look Latin American, while their fans resemble those used by Spanish flamenco dancers.

Kassandra Avraam, the society's president, said: "We all agree that cultural exchange is a fundamental part of learning about and understanding other cultures and, though this may lead to mimicry, that is not inherently harmful and sometimes [can be] found endearing.

"However, in the case of Tokyo Tea Rooms, we find that they have presented complete lack of understanding and clear ignorance towards Japanese culture which is not productive in the least for cultural exchange.

"Such inaccuracies point towards a clear lack of care and sensitivity.

"In our opinion, a deeper understanding of Japanese culture is needed to represent it, this was clearly absent in Tokyo Tea Room's opening event."

The launch night on Friday was branded "disgusting and offensive" by Kent Union student officials, who have since called for the venue to be boycotted.

A half-Japanese student who grew up in Canterbury, Beth Mari Madeley, 21, said she was uncomfortable with how the 'geisha' costumes inaccurately borrowed features from other Asian cultures, including China.

The illustration and animation student said: "It's like we are all the same thing."

"I feel a lot of things about it. This club could have been an opportunity to create a cultural exchange, but instead of that it's cultural appropriation, and I feel like people don't understand the difference between the two.

"If it was really about honouring Japanese culture, why didn't they hire Japanese women, or reach out to the Japanese Society, or bring someone in who could have made it much more accurate, rather than having two white women dressed up as a mish-mash of pan-Asian cultures?

"Racism towards Asian people isn't taken that seriously, because the Japanese community is a very small community in England.

"I think that was racist and if they were doing that to other cultures or races, people wouldn't be tolerating it.

"It definitely did not feel like it was coming from a place of appreciation. People don't seem to realise there's a Japanese community in Canterbury, and it's quite upsetting.

"It's also a mish-mash of time periods. The fact that they had geishas and a karaoke bar [in the same place] is like opening up an English pub with a pinball machine and a Tudor re-enactment."

The owner of a Japanese restaurant in Canterbury, who has lived in the country for more than two decades but preferred not to be named, said: "They've just tried to do a PR stunt without any idea about Japanese culture.

"You can tell by a) the name, b) the design of the sign and c) the concept.

"But for me personally, there's a bit too much political correctness going on here, from do-gooders who should probably be concentrating on their degrees."

The city's MP, Rosie Duffield, has also weighed in and says the club's owners - one of them a Conservative councillor - had crossed the line from 'cultural appreciation' to 'cultural appropriation'.

She said: "I was disappointed to see that Canterbury's latest venue, Tokyo Tea Rooms took such a culturally insensitive approach on their opening night last weekend.

"Guests were welcomed into the Japanese-themed nightclub by white hosts wearing kimonos and geisha-style makeup.

"I'm disappointed that certain Canterbury city councillors took part in the evening without calling out this error.

"I'm really pleased to see student representatives from Kent Union and Canterbury Christ Church University have spoken out against the nightclub and discouraged students from attending."