Sunday Theater 'GIFT' Ranks #1 as Most Desired Drama to Watch Until Final Episode in Spring 2026 -- TV Magazine's Independent Survey of 291 People
TV Magazine surveyed 291 viewers of Spring 2026 dramas about which series they wanted to watch until the very end. Sunday Theater 'GIFT' took the top spot, revealing polarized viewing habits based on gender and age.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 19:41
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 11:21 (19 min after Collected)
Entertainment information media 'TV Magazine' (operated by WonderSpace Inc.) conducted a survey targeting 291 viewers of Spring 2026 dramas in April 2026, asking about "works they want to watch until the final episode." The overall ranking saw TBS's Sunday Theater 'GIFT' at 1st place (11.7%), TV Tokyo's 'Solitary Gourmet Season 11' at 2nd (11.0%), and TV Asahi's 'Reborn ~The Last Hero~' at 3rd (9.3%), indicating a close contest among the top three. The survey also revealed dramatic differences in supported works by gender and age, and a polarization phenomenon where the 4th most popular drama, 'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku' (Canned Mackerel, Going to Space), simultaneously had the highest dropout rate.
Summary of Survey Results
[Overall Ranking TOP10]
[Differences in Supported Works by Gender]
Women's Overall #1: 'GIFT' (TBS) 10.9% (n=192)
Men's Overall #1: 'Solitary Gourmet Season 11' (TV Tokyo) 20.2% (n=94)
Men's #2: 'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku' (Fuji TV) 18.1%
Men's preferences were concentrated, with the top three works 'Solitary Gourmet' + 'Saba Can' + 'GIFT' accounting for **52.1%** of male votes. In contrast, women's preferences were more dispersed, supporting a wider variety of genres.
[Age Group #1]
The 20s age group showed a concentrated preference for 'Saba Can', accounting for approximately 20%, while 'GIFT' was central for those in their 30s-60s, revealing a clear division by generation and gender.
[Dropout Drama Ranking]
33.7% of respondents (98 people) answered that they "had dropped out of a drama midway."
'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku' became a polarizing work, being both 4th in popularity and 1st in dropout rate.
[Expectations for Next Season (Summer Dramas)]
Total "Increased expectations": 38.2% (Significantly 6.9% + Somewhat 31.3%)
"Unchanged": 57.7%
Total "Decreased expectations": 4.1%
Selected Viewer Comments
#1 'GIFT'
"Sunday Theater almost always delivers, I watch it in real-time almost every season. The theme of wheelchair rugby, the star-studded cast, and the unpredictable script already make me look forward to every week's broadcast." (Female, 30s)
#2 'Solitary Gourmet Season 11'
"When I come home tired from work, seeing Goro-san silently eating is reassuring and somehow healing, so I want to watch it until the end." (Male, 50s)
#3 'Reborn ~The Last Hero~'
"The protagonist is given a chance to redo the past, and it's interesting to see how he changes his life through accumulated choices. The foreshadowing and changes in relationships are carefully depicted, making me want to see the conclusion." (Male, 20s)
#4 'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku'
"The reasons for the canned mackerel's role in space, its true identity, and foreshadowing are gradually revealed, and the changing relationships with companions are well-structured. The mystery at the core, progressing behind the gags, is intriguing." (Male, 30s)
Editorial Analysis
'GIFT' ranked 1st, supported widely by women in their 30s-50s due to the trust in the Sunday Theater brand and anticipation for the "Sanctuary screenwriter." On the other hand, 'Solitary Gourmet Season 11' (2nd place) was an overwhelming male audience killer, securing 20.2% of male votes. The two were supported by completely different demographics, leading to a close contest with only a 0.7% difference.
Notably, 'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku' (4th place) exhibited a polarization phenomenon, being both 4th in popularity and 1st in dropout rate. While creating enthusiastic fans, especially among young men in their 20s, it also created a structure where its unique worldview "didn't fit" for other segments.
Survey Outline
Survey Name: Spring 2026 Drama "Works to Watch Until the Final Episode" Ranking Survey
Survey Body: TV Magazine Editorial Department (WonderSpace Inc.)
Survey Period: May 3, 2026 - May 4, 2026
Valid Responses: 291 people (Men and women aged 20-69 nationwide)
Survey Method: Internet questionnaire
Attribute Breakdown: Women 66.0% / Men 32.3% // 30s 33.3% / 40s 27.8% / 50s 17.2% / 20s 14.8% / 60s 5.8%
Detailed Article on This Survey
For detailed rankings, all comments, cross-tabulations by age group, and complete data, please refer to the TV Magazine article.
▼ [291 People Surveyed] Spring 2026 Drama "Works to Watch Until the Final Episode" Ranking
URL: https://saru.co.jp/tvmaga/spring-drama-2026-watch-till-end-ranking/
About the Media
"TV Magazine" is a web magazine that provides entertainment information on dramas, anime, movies, and manga. It supports viewers and readers in choosing works through analytical articles on the latest releases, distribution information, and independent surveys.
URL: https://saru.co.jp/tvmaga/
About Citations
When citing the contents of this release, please be sure to clearly state "According to TV Magazine" as the source and, if possible, link to the above URL (detailed article).
Summary of Survey Results
[Overall Ranking TOP10]
[Differences in Supported Works by Gender]
Women's Overall #1: 'GIFT' (TBS) 10.9% (n=192)
Men's Overall #1: 'Solitary Gourmet Season 11' (TV Tokyo) 20.2% (n=94)
Men's #2: 'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku' (Fuji TV) 18.1%
Men's preferences were concentrated, with the top three works 'Solitary Gourmet' + 'Saba Can' + 'GIFT' accounting for **52.1%** of male votes. In contrast, women's preferences were more dispersed, supporting a wider variety of genres.
[Age Group #1]
The 20s age group showed a concentrated preference for 'Saba Can', accounting for approximately 20%, while 'GIFT' was central for those in their 30s-60s, revealing a clear division by generation and gender.
[Dropout Drama Ranking]
33.7% of respondents (98 people) answered that they "had dropped out of a drama midway."
'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku' became a polarizing work, being both 4th in popularity and 1st in dropout rate.
[Expectations for Next Season (Summer Dramas)]
Total "Increased expectations": 38.2% (Significantly 6.9% + Somewhat 31.3%)
"Unchanged": 57.7%
Total "Decreased expectations": 4.1%
Selected Viewer Comments
#1 'GIFT'
"Sunday Theater almost always delivers, I watch it in real-time almost every season. The theme of wheelchair rugby, the star-studded cast, and the unpredictable script already make me look forward to every week's broadcast." (Female, 30s)
#2 'Solitary Gourmet Season 11'
"When I come home tired from work, seeing Goro-san silently eating is reassuring and somehow healing, so I want to watch it until the end." (Male, 50s)
#3 'Reborn ~The Last Hero~'
"The protagonist is given a chance to redo the past, and it's interesting to see how he changes his life through accumulated choices. The foreshadowing and changes in relationships are carefully depicted, making me want to see the conclusion." (Male, 20s)
#4 'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku'
"The reasons for the canned mackerel's role in space, its true identity, and foreshadowing are gradually revealed, and the changing relationships with companions are well-structured. The mystery at the core, progressing behind the gags, is intriguing." (Male, 30s)
Editorial Analysis
'GIFT' ranked 1st, supported widely by women in their 30s-50s due to the trust in the Sunday Theater brand and anticipation for the "Sanctuary screenwriter." On the other hand, 'Solitary Gourmet Season 11' (2nd place) was an overwhelming male audience killer, securing 20.2% of male votes. The two were supported by completely different demographics, leading to a close contest with only a 0.7% difference.
Notably, 'Saba Can, Uchu e Iku' (4th place) exhibited a polarization phenomenon, being both 4th in popularity and 1st in dropout rate. While creating enthusiastic fans, especially among young men in their 20s, it also created a structure where its unique worldview "didn't fit" for other segments.
Survey Outline
Survey Name: Spring 2026 Drama "Works to Watch Until the Final Episode" Ranking Survey
Survey Body: TV Magazine Editorial Department (WonderSpace Inc.)
Survey Period: May 3, 2026 - May 4, 2026
Valid Responses: 291 people (Men and women aged 20-69 nationwide)
Survey Method: Internet questionnaire
Attribute Breakdown: Women 66.0% / Men 32.3% // 30s 33.3% / 40s 27.8% / 50s 17.2% / 20s 14.8% / 60s 5.8%
Detailed Article on This Survey
For detailed rankings, all comments, cross-tabulations by age group, and complete data, please refer to the TV Magazine article.
▼ [291 People Surveyed] Spring 2026 Drama "Works to Watch Until the Final Episode" Ranking
URL: https://saru.co.jp/tvmaga/spring-drama-2026-watch-till-end-ranking/
About the Media
"TV Magazine" is a web magazine that provides entertainment information on dramas, anime, movies, and manga. It supports viewers and readers in choosing works through analytical articles on the latest releases, distribution information, and independent surveys.
URL: https://saru.co.jp/tvmaga/
About Citations
When citing the contents of this release, please be sure to clearly state "According to TV Magazine" as the source and, if possible, link to the above URL (detailed article).