The Japanese deity Kangiten inherits many names and characteristics from the Hindu god Ganesha. He is known as Binyaka-ten very similar to our Hindu Vinayaka; the Japanese names for the God - Ganabachi and Ganwha sound very similar to Ganesha.
The Trishul (weapon of Shiva, similar to Trident) over forehead symbolises time (past, present and future) and Lord Ganesha's mastery over it.
