Identify Impressed Pottery Mark on Bud Vase - Probably Japanese (?)

Hi, I hope that someone can help me to identify the impressed pottery mark on the bottom of this bud vase. (See Photos.)
I suspect it's from a Japanese or Korean maker.
The vase is approximately 5 1/2" tall. The glaze is a solid black with no decoration.
I haven't had any luck exploring the Gothenborg site, unfortunately.
Thanks!

Thanks. I hadn't considered the possibility of its being a retailer's mark.

Interesting. There doesn't seem to be much point in tracing this mark, even if it were possible.
(Anyway, I love the vase.) Thanks for your info.

NaomiM wrote:The Japanese have a different marking system to western potters. Handbuilders use communal kilns so the mark tends to be the kiln mark or Prefecture (eg. Bizen). Rarely is it an individuals' mark unless they are a Master potter. For mass produced wares, the pieces may be a company's factory mark (eg Noritake) , or commissioned by a large wholesaler or retailer from several factories, so they'll bear the stockist's mark rather than the different factories marks.

Not sure how different the marking system in Japan is to that in the UK/USA and there are one or two inaccuracies above.

You are correct that hand made pottery may have the mark of the kiln impressed on it rather than an individual maker but that is the same as, say, Winchcombe pottery etc. Individual makers, not only "master potters" do mark their work in Japan just as all potters than mark their work in the UK could not be classed as Master Potters, whatever that means.

The Prefecture is similar to a county in the UK and a state in the USA and I have never seen that marked on any hand made Japanese pot or mentioned on the wooden box of one. Bizen is a city and one of the old kilns of Japan, so that term is used for potters working in the traditional style in and around Bizen itself.

Bizen and other traditional pottery areas/types would appear written in script on an accompanying wooden box but, if it was an impressed mark on a pot, then it would be factory made and probably have no connection to the area, just a description of a style, which would mean the pot had no real value except for decorative purposes.

Factory marks, wholesaler and retailer marks do appear as stated and the vase here seems to fall into that category but those marks also exist here in the UK and I imagine in the USA too.