This work was written in 1972 by Japan¹s leading composer of the last half of the 20th century. It was originally for oboe and sho, the traditional Japanese version of the harmonica, which keeps playing behind the Western instrument, representing the "breathing of life." The title "Distance" refers to the physical separation between the sho and the soloist, and also to the pieces of extremely distant leaps of intervals and corresponding wide contrasts of types of articulation and dynamics (loudness).

The time-scale of this eight-minute piece is not Western, but is especially Japanese, Takemitsu treats time in the East Asian concept of circularity and ever-repeating cycles rather than in a linear fashion as in the West. It is probably this that made him, as he said, "incapable to write rapid music." While he has no trouble using rapid figurations, they are played on a background of slow harmonic motion.

The composer arranged the piece for saxophone, with or without the sho. It uses advanced playing techniques such as multiphonics (singing while playing the saxophone) to produce chords and strange harmonic sounds. These sounds are not just colorful decorations, but are integral to the structure of the piece.

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