A vintage Japanese souvenir bottle opener from Cape Ashizuri (足摺岬 / Ashizuri Misaki) in Kōchi Prefecture, Shikoku. Combining an everyday household tool with the graphic character of traditional Japanese travel souvenirs, this piece is a lovely example of Shōwa-era omiyage culture.
The opener features a long natural wooden handle printed on one side with the bold phrase 七転八起 (shichiten hakki), literally “fall seven times, rise eight.” Closely associated with the spirit of the Daruma, this well-known Japanese expression represents perseverance, resilience, and the determination to keep going despite setbacks. Small folk-style motifs beneath the inscription add to its playful, auspicious character.
The reverse is marked 国立公園 足摺岬 – “National Park, Cape Ashizuri”, accompanied by a small scenic illustration depicting the dramatic coastal landscape and lighthouse for which the cape is famous. Cape Ashizuri lies at the southern tip of Shikoku and forms part of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, celebrated for its rugged Pacific cliffs and sweeping ocean views.
Finished with a simple metal bottle-opening mechanism and a dark braided hanging cord, the piece was designed to be both practical and decorative—something a traveller could bring home as a memory of their visit and continue using in daily life.
