The gong or the sacred, ritual instrument whose sound soothes, generates harmony and leads to a state of inner peace and joy. In fact, “Dora” means gong in Japanese, bringing us full circle. Our gong marks the happy hour of tea, a deep sound marking a ceremony of simplicity, harmony and mindfulness. Legend has it that the first dorayaki were made when a samurai named Benkei forgot his gong (dora) upon leaving a farmer’s home where he was hiding, and the farmer subsequently used the gong to fry the pancakes.