Shibuya’s collaboration with Takahashi dates back to 1996, when ATAK released a cassette tape work titled Suikenshi-chiku, featuring performances for two pianos as well as recordings of their respective compositions. The release drew significant attention at the time, achieving the highest annual sales in Tower Records’ contemporary music section. Since then, they have continued to collaborate in various forms, including the releases ATAK002 keiichiro shibuya + yuji takahashi, ATAK006 yuji takahashi, and ATAK007 yuji takahashi + keiichiro shibuya + maria, all issued by ATAK.

Shibuya has often spoken publicly about how attending one of Takahashi’s concerts while he was still a high school student inspired him to pursue a career as a composer.

In planning and presenting this concert, Shibuya commented:

“I never imagined that when I first started composing, I would one day be able to produce Yuji’s concert. I have never heard the four pieces selected for this performance, but they have also served as inspiration for my recent sound installation work, Abstract Music. That’s why I asked him to play them—because I wanted to hear them myself. The piano will be placed at the center of the venue, allowing the audience to surround Yuji and experience the performance from very close range.”