Thank you very much for viewing. I am a gagaku (Japanese court music) hichiriki (double-reed wind instrument) player with over 50 years of experience. I create over a thousand high-quality reeds annually. This reed is made from high-quality reeds from Udo, carefully selected and dried in the shade for about a year and a half, then smoked over a sunken hearth (irori) for over 10 years. I am confident that this is a top-of-the-line reed, boasting both durability and excellent sound quality. I believe you will understand if you look at past reviews. It looks like it has been used because I have spent time cultivating and finishing it so that I can use it myself. Of course, there are no cracks, and it is ready to perform at its best, allowing you to play comfortably. It has the same thickness as my own beloved Kanda Jyusuke (slightly thick), but it is basically a thickness that fits any hichiriki, including plastic pipes. Even beginners can play it without difficulty and can put in a good breath. The price of one reed is a little high, but if you are not satisfied, I will handle returns and exchanges in any way. I am confident that you will be satisfied with this reed, so please try it once. As a supplement, no matter how wonderful the materials you have, if you don't have the skill to play, you won't know the quality, and you will never be able to make a better reed! Even if the reed itself is somewhat shaped, the tsume (the part that makes the sound) may be weak, or the seme (the part that seals the reed) may be loose or tight, which is one of the reasons why new reeds don't sound. Also, people say to cultivate a new reed, to make it sound... but in my experience, if the original quality is poor or if it's just dried in the shade, reeds that are close to raw are no good. I am convinced that it is only through proper smoking that you can achieve a core tone with firmness and luster. If you have any problems or concerns with gagaku or hichiriki, I would be happy to help. Thank you for reading this long message. I hope you will consider this reed.