"Final Distance" is a song by Japanese recording artist Hikaru Utada for her third studio album Deep River (2002).

The song was re-recorded, re-arranged, and dedicated to Rena Yamashita, a six-year-old victim of the Ikeda school massacre who had written an essay about being inspired by Utada.

Musically, "Final Distance" incorporates more instrumentation than the previous version, including violins, an acoustic piano and synthesizers.

An accompanying music video was shot by her then-husband Kazuaki Kiriya, featuring two versions of Utada inside a Utopian-inspired city with ballet dancers and a gothic-like orchestra.

During her four-year career since her 1998 debut with her single "Automatic", Utada's status as a Japanese singer and producer was enormous and had benefited with strong sales around Japan.

[5] After having a two-year break from the public, her second studio album Distance (2001) became another success and sold over four million units in Japan.

[8] The song was co-composed and co-produced by her father Teruzane Utada and long-time collaborator Akira Miyake.

[8] "Final Distance" features several instrument pieces including strings arranged by Saito Neko and played by Great Eida, acoustic piano by Kawano Kei, synthesizers by Tsunemi Kazuhide and other instrument arrangement by Utada.

The conception of re-recording "Final Distance" was due to the Ikeda 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 fifteen others being injured.

[13] While recording the track, she reflected on the emotions of sorrow, pain, anger and celebration and felt that she "found a new meaning" that she would "hold on to the end".

[15] "Final Distance" is composed as a low-tempo pop ballad incorporating string assembles and pianos through the entire song.

David Jeffries, who had written the extended biography of Utada at Allmusic, had selected the song as an album and career standout track.

[19] A reviewer from OngakuDB.com commented that they were "impressed" with the track, commending the "haunting atmosphere" and ballad influence.

[29][30] "Final Distance" became her first single since "First Love" to miss the top spot on the Oricon chart.

[35] It shows Utada in two different settings; a ballet recital with several performers on stage dancing to the track and a dark gothic room with performers dancing to the song, playing the violin and shows Utada sitting down in a school uniform.

Bradley Stern from MuuMuse was particularly positive off the collaboration, stating "For the most part, the featured musicians on Utada Hikaru no Uta stay faithful to the original records while adding her own unique flare to the production [...] like [Ai]‘s soulfully somber take on “Final Distance,”.