Saotome taifûn (2001)

Otake Bathing Resort in Ibaraki Prefecture is notorious for having the largest number of accidents of any bathing resort in Japan despite its very small number of bathers. This year, the town assembly has passed a bill stating that one more fatal accident will mean the instant closure of the bathing resort. To avoid the beach from being shut down, the lifeguards who are hired by the town decide to map out an official bathing area and impose strict rules. In his usual skeptical way, lifeguard Arashi Wakutsu declares, "The only thing, obviously, that matters is that no swimmers die." Just then, a new man comes to the beach. His name is Taifu Saotome, who has come to apply for the lifeguard job. Taifu denounces the rules that Arashi had set up, accusing him of trying to reduce the sea to just a swimming pool, and completely ignores them. In fact, on his own initiative, he expands the swimming area. This infuriates Arashi worries. Others-including Nagiko, an amateur surfer, and Choichiro Hamaoka, the owner of the beach house -support Taifu.