Need help reading (non-coin) Japanese text

[cmerc]

Please help in deciphering what this says.  I'm sure there are some experts here who can read Japanese. 

This is from the bottom of a carved statue, and it could be the artist's signature.  Can anyone please read what it says?  Thanks!

[ghipszky]

I don't know what it says, but it is really interesting.

[cmerc]

Thanks! This was posted a while back. Guessing it is a small Japanese statue that I acquired. Will have to dig it up and check.

[Manzikert]

Almost certainly the artist's signature. In your photo though, it is shown upside down

Alan