Wood Carved Bear & Fish Asian Marks?

Hi,
I have this carved wood bear holding a fish, looks like maybe Japanese or Chinese characters on his feet - maybe someone can read the marks.
He is 9" x 5" x 6"H.
Any information appreciated.
thanks for looking

 

It looks like a Ainu Kuma Bear from Hokkaido Japan.

 

thank-you Holly, I'll check that out

 

could be a locally carved chinese item from the lower mainland....

 

Hollyblue is correct, I've found lots of them now that I know what I'm looking for

 

could be either or.....


can you tell what wood it's carved from......cedar maybe ?

I know it's a Japanese form.....but they brought it to BC a long time ago.....& if you haven't seen my Jade pic yet ....the Chinese carvers adopted the design as it fit BC to a tee !

 

Thanks komokwa!
Yes, I saw the Jade piece, very nice
I think Cedar, the weight and feel of the wood seem like it to me.
I'm still looking at signatures on pieces I'm finding that are signed to compare with the marks on mine, I believe mine has Japanese characters on the feet. I will have to see what kind of wood the Japanese ones were carved with.

 

he's one...says mid 20th cent Ainu...



here's one kinda like yours..




& here's Maori wood carving...of a Star Wars Storm Trooper..........
just for shits & giggles......