Naoko Ogigami’s 'Kamome Diner' Gets the Boutique Blu-ray Treatment It Deserves
By Lio Renwick
Nami Films is releasing Kamome Diner (2006) on Blu-ray in August 2026, marking the launch of New Wave Video's new side label. Naoko Ogigami's gentle comedy-drama arrives as Nami Films Spine #1, the first title from the newly launched imprint, in a Director Approved Special Edition limited to 1000 units.
Directed by Ogigami (Rent-a-Cat, Megane), Kamome Diner follows Sachie, a warm and optimistic woman who runs a small Japanese café in the heart of Helsinki. Her counter draws a handful of unlikely regulars, among them fellow Japanese expatriates searching for connection far from home and Tommy, an eccentric Finnish otaku whose love of Japanese culture makes him one of the café's most devoted visitors. Out of simple meals and shared conversations, they build an unexpected community around the small rituals of everyday life.
The release packaging features a UV spot gloss slipcover with new artwork by Koeri Gallery. It comes with a collector's booklet with a new essay by film critic and historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
The extras includes a new interview with Ogigami, and Japanese cinema expert Jonathan Clements contributes a new video essay titled An Ordinary Life. Archival extras include Take a Walk with a Cat in Helsinki, a 40-minute making-of documentary, alongside the original theatrical trailer.
The film is presented in 1080p with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Audio is Japanese 2.0 stereo, with the 102-minute feature available in Japanese language with English subtitles.
Kamome Diner is expected to arrive in August 2026. It is currently available to pre-order from New Wave Video.
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