The conception of re-recording " Final Distance " was due to the Osaka school massacre that took place in early-June 2001 . The Osaka school janitor Mamoru Takuma , armed with a kitchen knife , stabbed and killed a total of eight children , with another seven others being attack . Mamoru was diagnosed with severe borderline personality disorder , antisocial personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder ; He was later convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on September 14 , 2004 . One of the murdered schoolgirls , six-year old Rena Yamashita , had written an essay about Utada , talking about how she wanted to become an actress and how Utada inspired her . Yamashita had won an essay competition regarding her essay about Utada . Utada was in the studio while being told by her father about this . While the recording the track , she reflected on emotions of sorrow , pain , anger and celebration and felt that she " found a new meaning " that she will " hold on to the end . " She called the re-recorded version " the most beautiful thing I have ever made ... " and " wish Rena-chan had heard it too ... " Musically , " Final Distance " is a departure from the " bright and warm " pop version of " Distance " . " Final Distance " is composed as a low-tempo pop ballad incorporating string assembles and pianos through the entire song . Utada 's vocals are layered and sounds more " anxious " than the original version . A reviewer from OngakuDB.Com commented that it was a " hauntingly solemn atmosphere " and called it " fresh . " The song also features a trance remix and " funny " dance-pop remix and two instrumentals of both " Distance " and " Final Distance "
Osaka school massacre
Osaka school massacre
Final Distance