Born in Kanazawa in 1937, Uozumi Iraku III was designated a Living National Treasure for the dora, or gong in 2002. Uozumi trained under his grandfather, Uozumi Iraku I, who was also a Living National Treasure and a well-known pioneer of dora craftsmanship. Dora is an essential piece in tea ceremony, as the low sound of the gong is made just before entering the tea room in order to put the mind at rest. The object is made with a metal alloy called sahari, a combination of bronze and tin. Through this rich generational knowledge, wabi sabi or the spirit of tea ceremony has been passed down to the artist.