He also said that, "The music is a homage to the sea which creates all things and a sketch for the sea of tonality"; Toward the Sea was written at a time when Takemitsu was increasingly returning to tonality after a period of experimental composition.
Han har også sagt, at "The music is a homage to the sea which creates all things and a sketch for the sea of tonality"; Toward the Sea blev skrevet på en tid, hvor Takemitsu i stigende grad vendte tilbage til tonalitet efter en periode med eksperimentel komposition.