Haiku Future

Japan’s konbini convenience stores are the stuff of legend, offering a kaleidoscopic array of alcohol, cosmetics and quite decent food 24 hours a day. The country is home to 30 per cent of the world’s 71,000 7-Eleven stores – nearly three times as many as the United States, where the chain was founded.

Japanese-Australian brothers Reiji and Kent Honour were ready to give this market a crack, and got as far as scouting locations in Tokyo. Then the pandemic hit. So instead, they opened Haiku Future next door to Haiku, Reiji’s Japanese-influenced cafe in Camberwell.

Like any good konbini, food is a big focus at Haiku. Brioche by Philip bakes fluffy shokupan (milk bread) exclusively for the two venues. You can pick up whole loaves, hot dog buns, burger buns and mini loaves tinted with matcha. There’s also regular sourdough and Brioche by Philip’s popular brioche doughnuts.

The kitchen next door also gets a consignment of shokupan, which it uses to prepare readymade katsu sandos (breaded pork cutlet sandwiches) with the classic cabbage and barbeque sauce. Also prepared fresh daily: bento boxes, onigirazu (a type of rice ball shaped like a sandwich or burrito), dons and salad bowls, all ready to go and “closely modelled” on what you’d find at a Japanese 7-Eleven or Lawson, another popular chain.

The brothers are also importing a wide range of pre-packaged drinks, seasonings, condiments and other groceries, including coffee beans from renowned specialty roasters such as Lilo, Onibus and Kurasu. Beautiful kitchen knives and stones come directly from Kappabashi, Tokyo’s “Kitchen Town” filled with restaurant supply stores.

Local goods also get plenty of shelf space, though. Stop by for handmade miso from Kaokao in Daylesford, crispy chilli oil from Collingwood restaurant Chotto Motto, and small-batch sauces from Sydney’s Jimoto Foods. And Richard Tomaino Ceramics, one suburb south, makes Haiku Future’s Japanese-style pieces.

Nearly everything is also available through Haiku Future's slick online store, including caps, T-shirts, lip balm and other Haiku Future merch.