The first episode of the TBS Sunday drama "GIFT," starring actor Shinichi Tsutsumi, aired on April 12th (Sundays at 9 PM). Kasumi Arimura, who plays lifestyle magazine reporter Hitoka Kiriyama, received positive feedback on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
Kiriyama was put in charge of a new series, "Para-Athletes and the People Who Support Them." Through his research, he encounters wheelchair rugby, the underdog team "Blaze Bulls," and astrophysicist Go Tetsu (Tsutsumi).
Following instructions from editor-in-chief Seiko Nishijin (played by Sei Matobu), Kiriyama visited Wutetsu at his university research lab. The connection between wheelchair rugby and astrophysics was unclear to Kiriyama, making the interview rather confusing. However, the lab was overflowing with materials related to wheelchair rugby. Kiriyama asked Wutetsu why he had become interested in wheelchair rugby.
"It's similar to space. In space, stars of different masses, sizes, and properties are drawn to each other by gravity, maintaining balance and forming a single star cluster. Wheelchair rugby is the same. Age, nationality, gender, disability—each player brings their own unique characteristics, their own mass, to form a single star cluster."
A star cluster can become a powerful force when its stars attract each other, but it will collapse if any of its stars are missing.
As Gotetsu passionately argued that wheelchair rugby, a sport where "players with different personalities, characteristics, and performance levels come together and compete on equal terms to aim for victory," is similar to space, Kiriyama nodded in agreement, saying, "I see."
On social media, comments included: "Shinichi Tsutsumi's eccentric character combined with Arimura Kasumi's steady acting creates a great atmosphere," "Shinichi Tsutsumi and Arimura Kasumi have great chemistry on screen. It's very reassuring," "Arimura Kasumi was great as a reporter," "Arimura Kasumi is cute as she works and mutters to herself," and "I'm really looking forward to seeing how the stories of Gotetsu, Ryo (Yuki Yamada), and Hitoka intersect from now on."
The drama follows Wu Tetsuya, a genius astrophysicist played by Tsutsumi, as he solves difficult problems facing the underdog team "Blaze Bulls" from his unique perspective. It's a story of redemption where the team, friends, and family reconnect.
