Older pitcher, Japanese (?) characters on base

What can you tell me about this little set? Pitcher measures approx 4", seems to be hand done.

Kind if an unusual handle. Is this any clue? Also signed on base.

P.S. Do I have the signature oriented correctly? Thanks!

 

I believe bottom two characters are simplified Kutani. First character matches first character of this Gotheborg.com example example.

 

Thank you, Trip. That is a great start.

 

it's japanese kutani,the colour and the style,the first word i think it somewhere with word wata...

 

Thank you, Silver Wolf.

 

Not Kutani but Awata ware, the maker is Kinkozan.

 

Excellent, that's it! Already found similar. Many thanks, Mat.

Thanks to all who took a look.

Last question, curious if this was a "factory second" for lack of a better word with the handle like this, or deliberate? It is all the way around and the rest of the piece is pristine, have to think it was deliberate but didn't see others. Thanks!

 

I think the handle is intended to look "natural" - like a piece of vegetation or a branch to compliment the painted scene.

 

Thank you, that's probably it!