@VINT64 Swimming just is one of the most basic survival skills. It's even more useful in a place like Japan that surrounded by the sea in every direction, plus there's a lot of culture connected to water. Nobody's going to drown because of rising sea levels. It's a very slow process. But a tsunami can drown people. The ability to swim could in some cases decide between living and dying. Not to mention a beach is a lot more enjoyable if you can swim. It can also affect your self-confidence if you don't need to be embarrassed about it.