GIFT (Japanese: ギフト) is a 2026 Japanese sports drama television series broadcast in the Sunday Theatre programming block on TBS from 12 April to 14 June 2026. The series stars Shinichi Tsutsumi as an eccentric astrophysicist who becomes involved with an underperforming wheelchair rugby team.
Created and conceived by director Shunichi Hirano and written by Tomoki Kanazawa, the original story uses wheelchair rugby as its central subject. The Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation cooperated in the production and provided technical supervision.
Premise Fumito Gotetsu is a brilliant but socially abrasive associate professor of astrophysics who finds intellectual pleasure in solving difficult problems. Hitoka Kiriyama, an editor for the lifestyle magazine Yurugi, is assigned to report on wheelchair rugby and becomes acquainted with both an elite team and the struggling Blaze Bulls.
Gotetsu visits the Blaze Bulls, whose head coach is his cousin Masami Hino. After analysing the team's performance, he concludes that its greatest weakness is the absence of an overwhelming ace. His blunt assessment provokes player Ryo Miyashita, who challenges him. Gotetsu subsequently becomes an adviser to the team and applies his analytical methods to its sporting and personal problems. Through his relationships with the players and Kiriyama, he gradually confronts emotions and forms of attachment that cannot be reduced to equations.
Cast and characters Main characters
Portrayed by Shinichi Tsutsumi. An associate professor at Tokei University who studies black holes. Brilliant, eccentric and tactless, he becomes an adviser to the Blaze Bulls. His floral shirts are a recurring visual characteristic.
Portrayed by Yuki Yamada. A 36-year-old Blaze Bulls player and municipal welfare-department employee. He was captain of his high-school football team before a traffic accident left him a wheelchair user.
Portrayed by Kasumi Arimura. An editor at Gem & Roots Publishing. She first meets the Blaze Bulls while reporting a magazine series about para-athletes and their support networks, and later joins the team as a support staff member.
Blaze Bulls
Portrayed by Michiko Kichise. The team's head coach, a physical therapist and Gotetsu's cousin.
Portrayed by Yoshihiko Hosoda. The mild-mannered captain of the Blaze Bulls and an emotional anchor for the team. He became a wheelchair user after developing Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease.
Portrayed by Kyoya Honda. A rebellious young man who joins the Blaze Bulls after facing Miyashita in wheelchair rugby. He was paralysed in a motorcycle accident.
Portrayed by Wan Marui. A returnee to Japan and a low-point player.
Portrayed by Keitatsu Koshiyama. The youngest member of the team and a former snowboarder who was paralysed in a training accident.
Shark Head
Portrayed by Ken Yasuda. A former player who serves as head coach of Shark Head, the dominant rival team.
Portrayed by Kanata Hosoda. A Shark Head player and member of the Japanese national team.
Oliver Bradley Portrayed by Kazuki Sawai. A Canadian high-point player who briefly helps the Blaze Bulls while away from Shark Head.
Other recurring characters
Portrayed by Yuta Tamamori. A former manager of the composer Tenjin who later becomes a supporter of the Blaze Bulls. He is eventually revealed to be Fumito Gotetsu's son.
Portrayed by Tomoko Yamaguchi. An artist, Sora's mother and Gotetsu's former lover.
Portrayed by Yu Miyazaki. A postdoctoral researcher in astrophysics at Tokei University.
Portrayed by Sei Matobu. Kiriyama's supervisor at Gem & Roots Publishing.
Portrayed by Hiromasa Taguchi. A highly skilled but stubborn wheelchair technician.
Portrayed by Yumi Asō. Ryo's mother.
Portrayed by Daikichi Sugawara. Ryo's father.
Production The series was conceived, planned and principally directed by Shunichi Hirano. Tomoki Kanazawa wrote the screenplay, with additional direction by Naoki Kato and Hiroaki Ito. Yuki Hayashi composed the score. Masako Miyazaki and Yuki Uchikawa served as producers, with Minami Nakazawa as cooperating producer.
The Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation supervised and cooperated with the production. Wheelchair rugby players and federation personnel also appeared in competition and training scenes.
The theme song is "Stardust" by Official Hige Dandism, released through Irori Records and Pony Canyon. The insert song is "Ichirin" by Little Glee Monster.
Episodes No. English translation of title Directed by Original air date Household rating 1 "What Is With This Guy?! A Crazy Scientist Appears!" Shunichi Hirano 12 April 2026 9.4% 2 "He's Actually Serious: The Genius Scientist Shows What He Can Do!" 19 April 2026 8.7% 3 "Why Do I Play Wheelchair Rugby?" 26 April 2026 8.5% 4 "The Stars Align! A Genius's Theory of Victory" Naoki Kato 3 May 2026 6.8% 5 "When Two Stars Align, Will the Sound of Victory Ring Out?" 10 May 2026 6.9% 6 "A Turbulent Training Camp After the Genius Discovers He Has a Son" Shunichi Hirano 17 May 2026 7.3% 7 "Fate Strikes the Team: A Father and Son's Tearful Melody" Hiroaki Ito 24 May 2026 7.5% 8 "On the Eve of Battle: A Fiery Vow Beneath the Stars" Naoki Kato 31 May 2026 6.0% 9 "Dazzling Stardust" Shunichi Hirano 7 June 2026 7.2% 10 "The Final! A Gift Reached Beyond Love and Miracles" 14 June 2026 7.6%
The premiere was extended by 25 minutes and aired from 9:00 to 10:19 p.m. The second episode was extended by 15 minutes and aired until 10:09 p.m.
The series recorded an average real-time household audience rating of 7.6% in the Kanto region, according to Video Research. Japanese media reported that it was the first drama in the Sunday Theatre block for which every episode remained below a 10% household rating.
Spin-off A four-episode side story, SHIFT: Those Who Collide and Move Forward (Japanese: SHIFT―ぶつかり、進む者たち―), was released on U-Next after selected broadcasts of the main series. It stars Kyoya Honda as Keijiro Asaya and follows events connected to the Blaze Bulls.
Other cast members include Kazuto Mokudai as Hayato Okihira and Kasumi Mori as Mio Aoki, with Tsutsumi, Arimura, Yamada and other actors from the main series reprising their roles. Kota Sawada wrote the spin-off, which was directed by Naoki Kato and Hiroaki Ito.
No. Release date English translation of title Director 1 12 April 2026 "Reunion" Naoki Kato 2 26 April 2026 "Rekindling" Hiroaki Ito 3 31 May 2026 "Rebirth" Hiroaki Ito 4 14 June 2026 "Regeneration" Naoki Kato
Home media A Blu-ray and DVD box set is scheduled for release in Japan on 13 January 2027.
References
External links
SHIFT at U-Next