Ep. 38: Judgment: Ring Hunter

This article is about an episode in No.1 Sentai Gozyuger.

Ep. 38: Judgment: Ring Hunter
No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, Episode 38
Air Date(s)	November 16, 2025
Production Information
Written by	Akiko Inoue
Directed by	Kenshin Tanimoto
Episode Guide
Previous	Ep. 37: Friendship Cross! Lord Kumade is a Fashionista
Next	Ep. 39: Burning Intensity! I'll Show You the Power of the Rings!

Ep. 38: Judgment: Ring Hunter (ジャッジメント・リングハンター, Jajjimento: Ringu Hantā) is the thirty-eighth episode of No.1 Sentai Gozyuger.

This episode was originally intended to be the 39th episode but aired as the 38th due to the original 38th episode being entirely cancelled as a result of Maya Imamori's termination from her agency and removal from the show. As such, footage from said episode was repurposed for this episode and the next.

Synopsis

Why did Kuon become a Ring Hunter? Before him appeared a man who knew the answer to that mystery: Koyo Iwao. To Kuon, Koyo was a benefactor who looked after him and Hoeru in the No One World when they were children. Koyo, now a Ring Warrior, and Kuon engage in a fierce battle for the ring...!

The Gozyugers, who stumbled upon this battle between Kuon and Koyo, are suddenly attacked by Ribbon. Ribbon imprisons not only the Gozyugers and Koyo, but even Kuon himself in a mysterious prison! The Gozyugers and Kuon must now cooperate to escape...!?

Plot

Hoeru, while working part-time as a waiter at a fancy party, meets Kuon, who asks him to serve him a drink. Both of them are surprised to see each other. Kuon explains that he's been invited to an event held in the restaurant, and says that Hoeru looks ridiculous in a waiter's outfit and would look more fitting as a soccer player. Hoeru recalls his experience in the alternate reality created by the RyoTegaSword, in which he told that universe's counterpart of Hisamitsu that he aspires to become a soccer player. Hoeru asks Kuon why did he change and join Bridan. Kuon tells that he's not really with the Bridans and that his wish is to be with Hoeru, but then reveals that he was joking and tells Hoeru that he never learns. He says that he's Queen Tega June's best soldier and that the Sentai Rings are his prey, but lets Hoeru keep his own for the time being. As they part ways, Kuon notices that the scar on his back has started to reach to his hand, realizing he has nowhere to go.

At No-One World, Bouquet gives Ribbon a bouquet as a present, which Ribbon finds lovely. She also gives her a present from TegaJune - a black box and two wolf-like monsters. TegaJune explains that the box is the “Little Prison”, in which Ribbon could trap humans. Fire Candle introduces the wolves as Guardin, Bridan's watchdogs, and warns Ribbon to not get bitten by them, but one of them bites his hand. Ribbon opens the box and stores the Guardins inside. She thanks TegaJune and Bouquet for the presents before going outside to use them. Bouquet follows her, but Mrs. Sweet Cake stops her and notifies her that since she's gave a lot of attention to Ribbon recently, her Rikuo shrine started collecting dust, much to Bouquet's horror. Outside, Ribbon decides to stop acting like a good girl. She throws away Bouquet's present and reveals her intention to take over Bridan when her comrades let their guard down.

Koyo reunites with Kuon

At TegaSword Village, Hoeru is troubled by Kuon's words, and his thoughts are interrupted by Kinjiro dancing playing an air guitar. He tells him to stop, and says that he wonders what Mr. Koyo would do in this situation. When Ryugi asks him who's Koyo, he explains that he's a mentor figure who took care of Hoeru and Kuon, together with Mine Takanashi, while they were trapped in No-One World. Elsewhere, Kuon runs into Koyo, who tells him of his wish to help Kuon reform, showing his Dekaranger Sentai Ring. Realizing he's a Ring Warrior, Kuon transforms into Garyudo to take the ring.

Koyo changes into Universe Warrior DekaRed

Koyo deflects Kuon's shots while transforming into Universe Warrior DekaRed. They start fighting, and Koyo tells Kuon that he's heard about all the cruel stuff he did to Hoeru. He tells him that Hoeru's suffering won't save him, but Kuon calls him arrogant and pulls out the Dark WolfDecalibur 50. Koyo uses his Ring's Armed power to form additional armor around himself, becoming Armed DekaRed. He starts shooting at Kuon with the D-Revolver, but Kuon sends the bullets into a portal created from the Dark WolfDecalibur. Koyo pulls out his SP1 License to judge Kuon, and proceeds to bind him with an X shaped symbol. Kuon retaliates with a Garyu Ranblade, and Koyo seemingly perishes in the explosion it causes, but aims a gun at his head and catches him by surprise. Kuon is shoot in the abdomen and detransforms.

The Gozyugers arrive at the battle, led by Hoeru whose enhanced smell picked up on Kuon. Koyo detransforms and reveals himself to him, but before the two could properly reunite, Ribbon appears. She opens the Little Prison and traps the Gozyugers inside. She then targets Kuon, but Koyo tries to block the attack, getting both of them trapped in the prison.

The boys are trapped inside Little Prison

The Ring Warriors find themselves inside Little Prison, and Ribbon asks them to either hand her the Sentai Rings or remain trapped. Kuon asks her to let him out, but Ribbon, out of embarrassment caused from accidentally trapping her older "brother", decides to still keep him. Kinjiro gets the idea of pulling the prison's bars with Ryugi's super strength, but they don't budge. Mashiro finds BearKuma 50 stuck between the bars and smears them in honey to free him.

Koyo reveals how Kuon got cursed by TegaJune

Koyo properly introduces himself to the other Gozyugers, telling them that he knew Hoeru and Kuon for a long time, and that his wish is to reform the latter. He tells them that one day, a Bridan squad led by a Guardin found the four loose humans. When Hisamitsu tried to attack the Guardin, he was defeated and kidnapped. Koyo followed them to the Ring Case Castle, where he saw Hisamitsu forging his Ring Contract with TegaJune. When he tried to rescue him, the Combatant Ai pushed him out of the caslte. Hoeru realizes that Kuon was forced to fight under TegaJune's orders. Koyo asks Kuon if he wants to be rescued, but Kuon tells him that right now they should focus on getting out of the prison. Rikuo admits that while he won't forgive Kuon for his crimes, he's right that they need to team up and escape the Little Prison. Hoeru asks from Kuon to tell him the whole story when they get out, and Kuon agrees to their temporary truce.

In an attempt to escape, Hoeru and Kuon stage a fight between themselves, waking up the Ai guarding their cell. When the Ai comes inside to stop them, Ryugi and Mashiro attack him from behind, allowing Koyo to collect the key to the cell. Kuon compliments Hoeru for his acting, but Hoeru tells him he knows very well they weren't acting. In a corridor, Kuon disguises Kinjiro as an Ai against his will, dubbing over him in Ai language to get information about the prison from another Ai guard. He knocks him out and tells the Gozyugers and Koyo that they must destroy the key guarded by the Guardins to break free. When asked how he could understand the Ai's language, he answers that he's just interested in foreign languages.

Koyo, Hoeru, and Kuon teaming up

The Ring Warriors find the key, which is guarded by the two Guardins. Hoeru, Kuon and Koyo transform to fight the Guardins, while the other Gozyugers (and surprisingly GozyuUnicorn) soon join them to fight and get the key. Koyo transforms into Armed DekaRed, while Kuon uses the TegaJune Leon and Tyranno Rings to copy the LeonBuster 50 and TyrannoHammer 50, using them to attack the Guardins. When Hoeru calls him out for copying the them again, he tells him that he can use their weapons better. Ryugi gets the key and passes it to Hoeru, who passes it to Mashiro, who loses it to an Ai. Hoeru and Kuon perform a combined finisher to attack one of the Guardin. angry at the monster who kidnapped his brother, Hoeru transforms into TegaSword GozyuWolf, and together with Kuon, they defeat it. Koyo pulls out the D-Sword Vega and uses it to destroy the other Guardin.

Kuon double-crosses Koyo and Hoeru

Mashiro gets the key back, and uses his finisher on it together with the other four Gozyugers, breaking it and the entire Little Prison and freeing the Ring Warriors. Hoeru, Kuon and Koyo aim their weapons at Ribbon and prepare to finish her, but Kuon turns around and suddenly attacks the other two! Hoeru is detransformed, and Koyo returns to his default DekaRed Form. He continues fighting with Kuon, who tells him that he didn't expect him and Hoeru to save him. Kuon tells Koyo that he always hated him, and uses the TegaJune Wolf Ring to copy the WolfDecalibur50, using it with his own Dark WolfDecalibur50, to perform a deadly finisher that heavily injures Koyo.

Kuon reveals that he has made a deal with TegaJune

Kuon takes the Dekaranger Ring and tells Hoeru that Koyo didn't know one important thing: Kuon's Ring Contract with TegaJune was mutual. He recalls his contract with TegaJune, who sensed his anger and fear and let him use her powers, but in return, he was to give away anything he had and become one with the queen.

Kuon walks away, telling Hoeru that he'd never want to be saved. He's joined by Ribbon, who apologizes for accidentally trapping him in her Little Prison. Kuon threatens to kill Ribbon if she does something similar, only sparing her this time because her interference led to him getting the Dekaranger Ring, causing the frightened Ribbon to return to No-One World. Koyo gives him one last look before falling unconscious.

Koyo wakes up in a hospital, with Hoeru watching over him. He apologizes putting his trust in Kuon, whom Hoeru announces is no longer his brother. Koyo tells him that he sees him and Kuon as his family. He tells Hoeru that now he's the only one who can save Kuon. At the Ring Case Castle, Kuon looks solemnly at the Dekaranger Ring.

Cast

• Hoeru Tono (遠野 吠, Tōno Hoeru): Mio Fuyuno (冬野 心央, Fuyuno Mio)
  • Hoeru as a child is portrayed by Omi Ichikawa (市川 臣, Ichikawa Omi)
• Rikuo Byakuya (百夜 陸王, Byakuya Rikuo): Hideharu Suzuki (鈴木 秀脩, Suzuki Hideharu)
• Ryugi Bakugami (暴神 竜儀, Bakugami Ryugi): Masakazu Kanda (神田 聖司, Kanda Masakazu)
• Kinjiro Takehara (猛原 禽次郎, Takehara Kinjirō): Jin Matsumoto (松本 仁, Matsumoto Jin)
• Mashiro Kumade (熊手 真白, Kumade Mashiro): Kaiki Kimura (木村 魁希, Kimura Kaiki)
• TegaSword (テガソード, Tegasōdo, Voice): Yuki Kaji (梶 裕貴, Kaji Yūki)
• GoodeBurn (グーデバーン, Gūdebān, Voice), BearKuma50 (ベアックマ50(ゴー), Beakumagō, Voice): KENN
• Queen TegaJune (女王テガジューン, Joō Tegajūn, Voice): Yukana (ゆかな, Yukana)
• Fire Candle (ファイヤキャンドル, Faiya Kyandoru): Daisuke Sanbongi (三本木 大輔 Sanbongi Daisuke, Daisuke Sanbongi)
• Bouquet (ブーケ, Būke): Marupi (まるぴ, Marupi)
• Kuon (クオン, Kuon): Karuma (カルマ, Karuma)
  • Kuon as a teen is portrayed by Kiyora Fujiwara (藤原 聖, Fujiwara Kiyora)
• Mr. Shining Knife (Mr.シャイニングナイフ, Misutā Shainingu Naifu, Voice): Tomokazu Sugita (杉田 智和, Sugita Tomokazu)
• Mrs. Sweet Cake (Mrs.スイートケーク, Misesu Suīto Kēku, Voice): Reina Ueda (上田 麗奈, Ueda Rena)
• Ribbon (リボン, Ribon, Voice): Mariya Ise (伊瀬 茉莉也, Ise Mariya)
• No.1 Battle Announcer: Wataru Komada (駒田 航, Komada Wataru)

Guest Cast

• Koyo Iwao (巌 紅葉, Iwao Kōyō): Ryosei Konishi (小西 遼生, Konishi Ryōsei)
• Mine Takanashi (高梨 嶺, Takanashi Mine): Yuria Kamiya (神谷 侑理愛, Kamiya Yuria)
• GozyuUnicorn (ゴジュウユニコーン, Gojūyunikōn, Voice): Ayaka Maekawa (前川 綾香, Maekawa Ayaka)

Suit Actors

• GozyuWolf: Shigeki Ito (伊藤 茂騎, Itō Shigeki)
• GozyuLeon: Yasunari Tsukagoshi (塚越 靖誠, Tsukagoshi Yasunari)
• GozyuTyranno: Danki Sakae (榮 男樹, Sakae Danki)
• GozyuEagle: Shogo Teramoto (寺本 翔悟, Teramoto Shōgo)
• GozyuUnicorn: Ayumi Shimozono (下園 愛弓, Shimozono Ayumi)
• GozyuPolar: Yuji Nakata (中田 裕士, Nakata Yūji)
• Mr. Shining Knife & Mrs. Sweet Cake: Yasuhiko Imai (今井 靖彦, Imai Yasuhiko)
• Garyudo: Kenya Saitou (齊藤 謙也, Saitō Ken'ya)
• Queen TegaJune: Yuki Miyazawa (宮澤 雪, Miyazawa Yuki)
• Ribbon: Naoko Kamio (神尾 直子, Kamio Naoko)
• DekaRed: Hirofumi Fukuzawa (福沢 博文, Fukuzawa Hirofumi)
• Guardin: Takahiro Yoneoka (米岡 孝弘, Yoneoka Takahiro), Hajime Kanzaki (神前 元, Kanzaki Hajime)

Form Changes and Collectibles Used

Sentai Rings

• GozyuWolf - RyoTegaSword (TegaSword GozyuWolf)
• GozyuLeon - N/A
• GozyuTyranno - N/A
• GozyuEagle - N/A
• GozyuUnicorn - N/A
• GozyuPolar - N/A
• Garyudo - TegaJune Tyranno (TyrannoHammer50), TegaJune Leon (LeonBuster50), TegaJune Wolf (WolfDecalibur50)
• Koyo Iwao - Dekaranger

Elements/Homages to Super Sentai

Gozyuger Episode 38's Title Card

• The title contains Judgment (ジャッジメント, Jajjimento), a phrase used by the Dekarangers before prosecuting an Alienizer, in reference to the appearance of the Universe Warrior incarnation of DekaRed. The title structure is also rendered as two parts in English, written in katakana, mirrorring the episode name format for each episode of Dekaranger.
• The choice of having Koyo be Universe DekaRed appears to be intentional; the Judge Mode symbols ("O" and "X") of the Dekarangers' SP License are also the symbols adopted by Hoeru and Kuon respectively. This is most evident in the scene where Koyo, Kuon, and Hoeru transform together side by side.

Errors

• to be added

Notes

• As part of Super Hero Time, this episode aired alongside Kamen Rider Zeztz episode 10, Case10: Vanish.

• Sponsor Spot Sentai Rings: TegaJune, Dekaranger, GozyuWolf
• Count at episode end
  • Rings in GozyuWolf's possession: GozyuWolf, Wild GozyuWolf, TegaSword Red, TegaSword Akatsuki, RyoTegaSword, Donbrothers, Jetman, Timeranger, Boukenger, Shinkenger, GoGoFive, Go-Busters, Flashman, Lupinranger, Patranger, Gorenger, Battle Fever J, Ohranger, Abaranger, Carranger
  • Rings in GozyuLeon's possession: GozyuLeon, TegaSword Blue, Sun Vulcan, Gaoranger, Magiranger, Zyuohger
  • Rings in GozyuTyranno's possession: GozyuTyranno, TegaSword Yellow
  • Rings in GozyuEagle's possession: GozyuEagle, TegaSword Green, Kyoryuger, Kiramager, Bioman, Dairanger
  • Rings in GozyuUnicorn's possession: GozyuUnicorn, TegaSword Black, Ryusoulger, Gingaman, Go-Onger, Megaranger, Kyuranger, Zenkaiger
  • Rings in GozyuPolar's possession: GozyuPolar, Gekiranger, Gokaiger, Zyuranger, Hurricaneger, Boonboomger, ToQger
  • Rings in Garyudo's possession: TegaJune, TegaJune Wolf, TegaJune Leon, TegaJune Tyranno, J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, Denziman, Goseiger, Liveman, Turboranger, Goggle-V, Fiveman, Ninninger, Dynaman, Changeman, Maskman, Dekaranger
• The preview for the original airing of episode 38 was shown by accident on November 10, 2025, after the rerun of Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger episode 8 (Bakuage 8: Runaway and Divide) on TV Asahi's Channel 1 satellite. The title of the original episode 38 was shown as Ep. 38: The Last Request!? A Shining Aura of High-Class, which would've been Sumino's focus episode.
• As the featured Universe Warrior in this episode is portrayed by Ryosei Konishi, an alumnus from the GARO series, this episode also contains several homages to his titular role as Kouga Saejima from the aforementioned franchise:
  • Koyo carries a lighter on his person, a reference to the Madō Lighter carried by Makai Knights.
  • Just before their fight, Kuon says "what a coincidence... (なんの因果か…, Nan no inga ka…), a reference to the Inga (陰我, Inga), the dark energy that creates the enemies in all the Garo media.
  • Koyo's TegaSword emits a green light, mirroring the green flames emitted by Garo during his attacks.
  • Koyo's ring ability as Universe DekaRed is to summon armor, powering up into Armed DekaRed. Kouga's transformation into Garo, the Golden Knight also involves the summoning of armor pieces which fly down and attach onto him.
  • Koyo twirls his TegaSword above his head for one round during his transformation into DekaRed, in reference to Kouga's actual transformation into Garo. The white circle that appears is a reference to the portal that the armor comes down from.
  • When Armed DekaRed wields the D-Sword Vega, his pose mirrors that of Garo's own sword-wielding pose in several promotional images.
  • Likely as a response to Konishi's appearance in this episode, the official X account of the Garo series posted a tweet on the same day this episode premiered to promote the original Garo series' streaming availability on YouTube.

DVD Releases

to be added

External Links

• TV Asahi's official preview for ジャッジメント・リングハンター
• Toei TV's official episode guide for ジャッジメント・リングハンター
• JAE's official episode guide for ジャッジメント・リングハンター