TsukuBlog A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. The Belief in Myoken (妙見信仰), the Deified Pole Star (and Big Dipper) Thrives at Tsukuba`s Hokuto-Ji Temple (北斗寺) in Kurihara (Festival on Thursday February 18, 2021) 16 February, 2021 A close-up of the MYOKEN WORSHIP HALL at the Hokuto-Ji Temple in Kurihara Tsukuba. These five colors are associated with the Shingon Sect of Buddhism, the dominant religion in the Tsukuba area. A Goma Taki ritual being carried out at the Main Hall of the Hokuto-Ji Temple in Kurihara, Tsukuba This fire ceremony, of Indian origin, was introduced to Japan by the great priest Kukai (Kobo Daishi) in the 9th century. This year`s Hoshi Matsuri is scheduled for Thursday February 18th