Canned drinks are everywhere. Beer, soda, sparkling water, and ready-to-drink cocktails fill refrigerators, coolers, and convenience store shelves. Yet the way we drink from a can has barely changed in decades. A small opening limits the aroma, controls the flow, and makes it hard to add ice or mix drinks.
A Japanese design company decided to rethink this everyday experience. 346 Inc., a product development firm known for its award-winning industrial design, created the DAVI Can Opener. This compact aluminum tool removes the entire top of a beverage can with a smooth, safe edge, turning the can itself into a mug. The lid stays attached to the opener instead of falling into the drink, and the tool works with most standard cans sold in Japan and abroad.
This article explains how the DAVI Can Opener works, the story behind its development, how it is made in Japan, and how Japanese consumers have received it. It also explores why this simple but thoughtful product is worth attention from overseas users, beverage brands, restaurants, and event organizers.
DAVI Can Opener Overview
Source: DAVI Homepage
The DAVI Can Opener is a beverage can opener designed and made in Japan by 346 Inc. (pronounced "San-Yon-Roku"). Instead of piercing a small hole, it cuts away the entire top of an aluminum can, leaving a smooth rim you can drink from directly, just like a beer mug. The brand name DAVI stands for "Design Any Vision," reflecting the company's goal of using design and technology to create "a new normal" in everyday life.
346 is a design-driven development and manufacturing support company founded in 2017. It helps clients turn ideas into finished products, covering everything from consulting and industrial design to prototyping, parts sourcing, and mass production. Its team includes members who have won major design awards in Japan and overseas, including the Good Design Grand Award. The DAVI Can Opener is one of the company's own original products, planned, designed, manufactured, and sold entirely in-house.
The DAVI Can Opener is made of aluminum and ABS resin. It measures 76 mm wide, 110 mm tall, and 12.6 mm thick, and weighs only 54 g, light enough to slip into a pocket or bag. It costs 6,578 yen (tax included) on the official online store. The opener works with aluminum cans with top lids 54 to 60 mm in inner diameter, covering most 350 ml and 500 ml cans sold in Japan, as well as many overseas beverage cans. Its patented lid-retaining structure lets you replace the blade when it wears down, so the tool can last for years.
How to Use the DAVI Can Opener: Turning a Can Into a Beer Mug
One of the DAVI Can Opener's biggest strengths is its intuitive design. The basic idea is simply to set it on the can and turn it. No batteries, no complicated parts, and no need for a flat surface, so you can use it as easily at a kitchen table as at a campsite.
- Hook the opener onto the can's pull tab. A clear claw on the underside scoops under the tab and lifts it, holding the opener in place.
- Pull out the lever on the side of the body and squeeze it to lock the blade against the lid.
- Rotate the opener around the top of the can. Press down lightly from above to help the blade cut smoothly without slipping.
- Keep turning until you no longer feel resistance. The lid is then fully cut and stays attached to the opener, so you can lift it away without it dropping into your drink.
- Enjoy your drink straight from the wide-open can. After use, wipe the opener dry to keep it clean and in good condition.
Once the top is off, the can works like a glass or beer mug. The wide opening lets you take big, satisfying sips and enjoy more of the drink's aroma. You can also drop ice cubes directly into the can or mix in another beverage to make a simple cocktail.
How the DAVI Can Opener Works and What Makes It Unique
Can openers that remove the entire top of a beverage can aren't a completely new idea. Similar tools existed overseas, but they never gained wide popularity. Users found they left sharp edges, let the cut lid fall into the drink, or simply didn't fit many can types. The DAVI Can Opener was designed to solve all three of these problems at once, while also looking good enough to keep on display or give as a gift.
A Unique Mechanism That Fully Opens Beverage Cans
The DAVI Can Opener uses its own cutting mechanism developed by 346. As you rotate the tool, it cuts around the can's top lid, removing it in one clean piece and leaving a wide, open mouth that feels like a glass rim.
Because the opener locks onto the pull tab first, it stays centered as it turns. The user does not need to line anything up precisely or apply heavy force. A light downward press and a steady twist remove the entire lid in a few seconds, making the experience feel almost effortless.
Safety and Hygiene: A Smooth Cut Edge and a Lid That Will Not Fall In
Safety was the top priority during development. The DAVI Can Opener uses a special cutting method that leaves a remarkably smooth edge. The company says the edge is safe enough for children to drink from directly, and hands-on reviews by Japanese tech media have confirmed the cut line is clean and free of rough spots. Even the round blade on the back of the tool is not sharp to the touch.
Hygiene was the second major focus. When the pull tab is hooked onto the body of the opener, the cut lid stays attached to the tool instead of dropping into the can. This patented design keeps the drink clean, so you never have to fish a metal lid out of your beverage.
Compatibility With Many Cans and a Refined Design
The DAVI Can Opener works with aluminum cans that have a top lid inner diameter of 54 to 60 mm. That range covers nearly all 350 ml and 500 ml cans sold in Japan, including beer, chuhai (Japanese canned cocktails), and soft drinks, as well as many overseas beer cans. This wide compatibility is a big advantage for international users, who can use the tool with local drinks.
The design is just as important as the function. The body has a simple oval shape that narrows toward the bottom, so it fits comfortably in the hand. Its aluminum finish gives it a premium, stylish look that stands apart from typical plastic kitchen gadgets. When the blade eventually wears down, you can install a separately sold replacement blade with a hex wrench, extending the product's life instead of turning it into waste.
The Development Story and the Vision of 346 Inc.
The DAVI Can kitchenware company did not create the opener. A team of industrial designers and engineers created it while spending their days helping other companies build products, from consumer electronics to medical-grade sensors. Their experience across many industries shaped how they approached a seemingly simple everyday item.
Why 346 Developed a Can Opener
As a design firm, 346 had worked on many beer-related products. One of its best-known projects is the dedicated beer server for DREAMBEER, a Japanese membership service that delivers craft beer to homes, which won a Good Design Award in 2021. Through this work, the team kept asking one question: how can people enjoy beer more deliciously?
That question led them to the can itself. The team knew full-open can openers already existed overseas, but when they tried several, they found the products hard to use and unsafe. Sharp cut edges and lids dropping into the drink had kept these tools from catching on. 346 believed that if it could solve those safety and hygiene problems, it could make beer life a little more enjoyable for everyone, and so development began.
The result was a tool that lets people taste canned beer the way it is served from a mug. With a wider opening, drinkers can enjoy the rich aroma and crisp carbonation more directly, something that is lost when drinking through a small opening.
346's Approach to Product Making and Design Philosophy
346 describes itself as a company that aims to "democratize technology" through design-centered product creation. In other words, it wants advanced engineering and good design to be available not only to large corporations but to startups, small businesses, and everyday consumers.
The company's strength lies in covering the whole journey from idea to mass production. It can provide consulting at the concept stage, create prototypes, source materials and components, and manage manufacturing. Its portfolio ranges widely, including sleep-measurement devices, brain-stimulation wearables, and concept designs for air mobility platforms.
The DAVI brand is where this philosophy becomes visible to consumers. As the company puts it, the name "Design Any Vision" expresses its hope of using design and technology to create "a new normal." With the DAVI Can Opener, 346 hopes people will experience a small but meaningful change in their daily routine.
Manufacturing and Quality Control of the DAVI Can Opener
Source: DAVI Homepage
A tool that touches the drinking edge of a can has to be precise, durable, and consistent. 346 treats the DAVI Can Opener as a long-term product rather than a novelty gadget, and that shows in how it is made and tested. The company emphasizes "Made in Japan" quality and continues to improve the product even after launch.
Manufacturing in Japan and Commitment to Materials
The DAVI Can Opener is manufactured in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Gunma is home to a strong base of manufacturing and metalworking companies, and 346 itself has roots in the prefecture. Isesaki City has also selected the product as a hometown tax donation gift (furusato nozei), where it ranks second in the city's gift rankings. This shows the local community sees the opener as a product it can be proud of.
The body combines aluminum and ABS resin. The aluminum keeps the tool light and strong while giving it a premium metallic finish. At just 54 g, the finished product balances durability with portability, making it easy to carry to a barbecue or campsite.
Prototyping and Durability Testing: A Development Process Focused on Quality
According to 346, the hardest part of development was guaranteeing quality. The team built prototype models many times over, adjusting the design again and again. Before reaching the final version, the opener went through durability testing that involved opening 1,200 cans.
This commitment did not stop at launch. 346 states that it continues to carry out can-opening tests and improve components as part of its ongoing quality control. The replaceable blade is another part of this approach. Instead of asking customers to buy a new opener when the blade dulls, the company sells replacement blades that can be swapped in with a hex wrench, keeping the tool in use for as long as possible.
Use Cases and Business Potential for the DAVI Can Opener
At first glance, the DAVI Can Opener looks like a tool for beer lovers. In practice, it fits a much wider range of situations. Anyone who drinks from cans, whether at home, outdoors, or at work, can find a reason to use it. For businesses, it also opens up new ways to present and promote canned beverages.
At Home, Outdoors, and at Parties
At home, the DAVI Can Opener turns an ordinary evening drink into something closer to a draft beer served in a mug. Because the top is fully open, you can add ice directly to the can when the drink starts to warm, or combine different drinks to create simple cocktails right in the can. After finishing, the wide opening makes it easy to rinse and drain the can before recycling.
Outdoors, the opener really shines. It is small, light, and needs no electricity, so it fits easily into a camping kit or picnic bag. You don't need to bring glasses, which means less to carry and less to wash. DAVI also suggests reusing empty cans as camp cookware and shares outdoor recipes on its official social media. You can also reuse favorite cans at home as pen holders or small storage containers.
At parties and barbecues, the opener becomes a conversation starter. Guests are often surprised to see a can turned into a mug in a few seconds, and everyone can enjoy their drink without needing extra cups.
For Restaurants, Beverage Brands, and Events
For restaurants and bars that serve canned craft beer or ready-to-drink cocktails, the DAVI Can Opener offers a new way to serve. Drinks can be presented in their original cans with the full aroma released, highlighting the can's design while reducing the need for glassware and dishwashing.
For beverage makers, the opener is a tool for brand experience. Many craft breweries and drink brands invest heavily in can design, and a fully opened can puts that design right in the drinker's hand. The opener could be used in tasting events, product launches, or as a branded novelty item for loyal customers.
Event organizers can also benefit. At outdoor festivals, sports events, and concerts, serving drinks in fully opened cans removes the need for separate cups, which can help reduce waste. The opener's premium design also makes it suitable as a corporate gift, a prize, or a promotional item for beverage-related campaigns.
Reputation and Track Record in Japan
The DAVI Can Opener quickly grew from a crowdfunding idea into a nationally sold product. Its journey shows how strongly Japanese consumers responded to the concept of drinking from a fully opened can, and how media and retailers helped spread the word.
Crowdfunding Success and the Road to Commercial Launch
The DAVI Can Opener first appeared on CAMPFIRE, one of Japan's largest crowdfunding platforms, in the summer of 2022. The project reached its funding goal just 27 hours after launch. Within 10 days, it surpassed 800 backers and 1,000% of its target. Supporters could pre-order the opener at a special campaign price before general release.
In 2023, the product returned for a second campaign on machi-ya, a crowdfunding platform run in partnership with Japanese tech and lifestyle media. Across both campaigns, total support reached about 20 million yen (more than 200,000 US dollars).
After crowdfunding ended, the opener was initially sold only through the official online store and at the Hands Shinjuku and Umeda stores, two flagship locations of the well-known Japanese lifestyle retailer. In October 2023, thanks to strong demand from users, 346 expanded sales nationwide. By the following year, the company reported selling more than 10,000 units in about a year.
Media Coverage, Retail Presence, and Recognition in Japan
A range of Japanese media has featured the DAVI Can Opener. Tech and lifestyle sites Gizmodo Japan and Lifehacker Japan published hands-on reviews during the machi-ya campaign. Tokyo Walker, one of Japan's best-known lifestyle publications, covered its nationwide launch and interviewed the development team. Manufacturing industry outlet MONOist reported on the product when 346 exhibited it at Japan Manufacturing World 2023 at Tokyo Big Sight, and ASCII highlighted it at the startup event JID 2025.
In retail, stores across Japan now carry the opener, and DAVI lists retailers on its official website. It is also available as a hometown tax donation gift through major furusato nozei platforms, where it ranks among Isesaki City's most popular gifts. This combination of online buzz, physical retail, and local government recognition has helped establish the DAVI Can Opener as a credible Japanese design product rather than a short-lived gadget.
What Users Say: Real-World Experiences
Hands-on reviewers in Japan highlight several consistent points. The cut edge is smooth and free of rough spots, so you have little to worry about when it comes to cutting your lips. Drinking from the open can feels like gulping from a glass or beer mug, and the wider opening makes the aroma easier to enjoy. Reviewers also appreciate being able to add ice when a drink starts to warm up.
The design receives praise as well. Reviewers note that the oval aluminum body fits naturally in the hand and looks stylish, while its light weight makes it easy to take anywhere.
There is a small learning curve. One reviewer found that the opener could slip if not gripped firmly, and recommended pressing down lightly from above while turning for a smooth cut. Once users get the hang of it, they describe the process as quick and easy.
Global Expansion and Future Potential
Source: DAVI Homepage
Canned beverages are a global market, and the problems the DAVI Can Opener solves are not unique to Japan. Drinkers everywhere face the same small opening, the same limited aroma, and the same need to find a glass. That makes the opener a strong candidate for international growth, and 346 has already taken its first steps abroad.
A New Drinking Experience for Global Beverage Markets
In many countries, canned drinks are booming. Craft breweries in North America, Europe, and Australia release a steady stream of limited-edition cans with eye-catching artwork. Hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and premium sparkling waters are growing fast. Outdoor culture, from camping and tailgating to beach days and music festivals, revolves around cans.
The DAVI Can Opener fits naturally into all of these scenes. It lets drinkers enjoy canned craft beer with more aroma, add ice to a warm drink, or mix a quick cocktail without extra glassware. It also appeals to consumers who care about design and are drawn to well-made Japanese products. Because it works with a wide range of can sizes found overseas, international users can use it with their local favorites.
Overseas Sales and Opportunities to Expand Distribution
In September 2024, 346 launched the DAVI Can Opener on Indiegogo, its first time offering the product outside Japan, with a suggested retail price of 79 US dollars and worldwide shipping. The campaign raised a modest amount at first, and the product remains available through Indiegogo's InDemand program. The opener has also attracted attention from overseas media, including the packaging trade publication Metal Packager and international tech blogs, and some resellers offer it to buyers outside Japan.
There is clear room to grow. Potential channels include design and lifestyle stores, outdoor and camping retailers, craft beer shops and taprooms, museum and gift shops featuring Japanese design, and online marketplaces. Business-to-business opportunities may be even more promising: breweries and beverage brands could offer the opener as branded merchandise, bundle it with special-edition cans, or use it at tasting events and festivals. For distributors looking for a premium Japanese product with a clear story, the DAVI Can Opener offers an easy-to-demonstrate concept that sells itself in seconds.
Looking Ahead: Bringing Japanese Product Design to the World
For 346, the DAVI Can Opener is more than a single product. It showcases what the company can do, from spotting a small everyday frustration to solving it with thoughtful engineering and refined design. The DAVI brand has already expanded to include a Can Holder, a Titanium Mug, and a Dry Bag, building a lineup around enjoying drinks and the outdoors.
As global interest in Japanese craftsmanship and design continues to grow, the DAVI brand could represent a modern side of "Made in Japan": not traditional crafts, but clever, beautifully made tools that improve daily life. With the right international partners, the simple act of opening a can could become a new way for people worldwide to experience Japanese design.
Conclusion
The DAVI Can Opener takes one of the most ordinary objects in the world, the beverage can, and makes drinking from it more enjoyable. By fully opening the top with a smooth, safe edge and keeping the lid out of the drink, 346 Inc. solved the problems that had held back earlier full-open can openers. The result is a compact, beautifully designed tool that turns any compatible can into a mug.
Backed by about 20 million yen in crowdfunding support, with more than 10,000 units sold within about a year, and manufactured in Gunma Prefecture, the DAVI Can Opener has proven its appeal in Japan. With canned drinks, craft beer, and outdoor culture growing worldwide, it is well positioned to reach new audiences abroad.
For overseas consumers, it is a fun and practical way to enjoy canned drinks. For breweries, beverage brands, retailers, and event organizers, it offers a fresh way to connect people with their drinks and with Japanese design. If you are looking for a product that combines everyday usefulness with a clear story, the DAVI Can Opener is well worth a closer look.
FAQ About the DAVI Can Opener
1. What is the DAVI Can Opener?
The DAVI Can Opener is a beverage can opener designed and made in Japan by 346 Inc. It cuts away the entire top of an aluminum can so that you can drink straight from the can like a mug.
2. What Does "DAVI" Mean?
DAVI stands for "Design Any Vision." The name reflects 346's goal of using design and technology to create "a new normal" in everyday life.
3. How Do You Use It?
Hook the opener onto the can's pull tab, lock the blade by squeezing the side lever, and rotate the opener around the top of the can until the lid comes free. The lid stays attached to the opener instead of falling into your drink.
4. Is the Cut Edge Safe to Drink From?
Yes. The opener uses a special cutting method that leaves a smooth edge, and 346 states that it is safe even for children to drink from. Hands-on reviews in Japan confirm the edge is clean and free of rough spots.
5. Which Cans Does It Work With?
It works with aluminum cans whose top lid has an inner diameter of 54 to 60 mm. This covers nearly all 350 ml and 500 ml cans sold in Japan, including beer, chuhai, and soft drinks, as well as many overseas beverage cans.
6. How Much Does it Cost?
The DAVI Can Opener is priced at 6,578 yen (tax included) on the official DAVI online store in Japan. Its suggested retail price for the overseas Indiegogo launch was 79 US dollars.
7. What is it Made Of, and How Big is it?
It is made of aluminum and ABS resin. It measures 76 mm wide, 110 mm tall, and 12.6 mm thick, and weighs 54 g.
8. Can the Blade be Replaced?
Yes. When the blade wears down after long use, you can replace it with a separately sold replacement blade using a hex wrench.
9. Where is it Made?
The DAVI Can Opener is manufactured in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Isesaki City also offers it as a hometown tax donation (furusato nozei) gift.
10. Can I Buy it Outside Japan, or Carry it for My Business?
The DAVI Can Opener has been offered internationally through Indiegogo with worldwide shipping. Retailers, breweries, and beverage brands interested in wholesale, branded versions, or overseas distribution should contact 346 directly through the DAVI website.
Related Videos
If you're interested in Japan's innovative everyday products, the video below introduces the DAVI Can Opener, a clever tool designed to turn ordinary beverage cans into convenient drinking mugs. By removing the entire top of a can, this invention offers a new way to enjoy canned drinks without pouring them into a separate glass.
