Small sake (?) cup with face - signed - pottery/porcelain

I ran across this little cup today, and I'd never seen anything like it. I took the pics in a thrift shop, so I didn't get exact measurements. I'd guess it's about 3" high and 2.5" in diameter at the rim. Could it be a sake cup?

The face is raised on the surface, like an attached lump of clay. I think it looks like the boy is sticking his tongue out.

It's signed on the bottom, but I still struggle with Asian-language signatures. Just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to research.

Thanks! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

 

It's a Japanese tea cup. They have no handles, to keep the hands warm. Sake cups are much smaller.

 

The face is that of Hyottko, a Japanese charachter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyottoko

 

Tea cup! I now remember reading the no-handles explanation, elsewhere on this board or the eBay one. Thanks for the reminder, Janet.

And thanks RRO for the character link. I appreciate the information.